Thursday, August 10, 2023

At a glance (2 minute read)

  • Vancouver is considering reducing maximum size of detached homes on specific lots for missing middle housing.
  • Through an online petition, architect Tillie Kwan raises concerns over issues like flexibility for multi-generational living and impacts on existing residences.
  • The petition recommends maintaining current buildable area for single-family homes and adjusting laneway house size instead.

Do you or your clients support the city of Vancouver reducing the maximum size of a detached home on 33 x 122-foot lot?

In a report to Vancouver city council on adding Missing Middle Housing and Simplifying Regulations – Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, city staff propose:

  • reducing the maximum size of new single-detached houses from 0.7 FSR to 0.6 FSR; or
  • to 2,400 square feet on a 33 x 122-foot lot.

This reduction in maximum allowable home side has generated a number concerns, resulting in an online petition created by Vancouver architect, Tillie Kwan. 

Concerns over new limitations

Top concerns detailed in the petition:

  • “Many households live in multi-generational and other co-living arrangements and larger homes are better equipped to support this.
  • Single family residences with secondary suites would now have less area to use between the 2 dwellings (0.6 FSR for both the primary dwelling and the suite).
  • Reducing maximum allowable area makes the single-family housing stock built under these new rules less flexible and adaptable for future living.
  • The reduction in allowable built area will negatively impact the flexibility and desirability of renovating older homes.”

“Larger houses are better suited for Vancouver’s increasing number of multi-generational households and other co-living arrangements,” according to the petition. 

To offset the reduced house size, the city is proposing increasing the size of laneway houses, the petition notes. “The property’s total buildable floor area remains about the same, with more floor area shifted to the laneway house, which takes away living space in the primary residence.”

Alternatives to zoning changes

The petition recommends:
"The City maintain the current buildable area for single-family homes at 0.7 FSR and allow up to 0.85 total FSR on the site if a lot includes a laneway house, with a maximum laneway FSR of 0.25. This allows for the flexibility to allocate FSR between the principal dwelling and the laneway house to suit individual homeowner's needs. From an urban planning and long term outlook for housing perspective, there is no good reason to reduce buildable area from the current standard."

Read the petition.

If you have questions about this petition, contact Harriet Permut, director of government relations at hpermut@rebgv.org.