Big Changes Ahead: District Prepares for Major Housing Expansion
Big growth is on the table for the District of North Vancouver — more than 22,000 new homes by 2041, to be exact. It’s all part of a province-wide push requiring every municipality to update its Official Community Plan (OCP) to meet future housing needs.
At a June 23 meeting, council gave staff the go-ahead to start drafting updated bylaws and options for a new plan. The district’s target: 22,369 new homes in the next 20 years.
Over the spring, the district gathered public feedback on three possible growth scenarios. The majority of support landed on one that concentrated most new housing in existing town centres. The refined plan now being shaped is a mix of the top two options.
Here’s the general direction:
- 75% of new homes would go into four key centres — Lions Gate/Marine Drive, Lynn Valley, Lynn Creek, and Maplewood.
- The other 25% would be added near those hubs, in surrounding neighbourhoods like Norgate, Pemberton Heights, and Keith Lynn.
The plan includes a variety of housing types — from low-density options to mid- and high-rise buildings, townhomes, and possibly multiplexes. The goal is to focus density where transit, shops, and services already exist, rather than spreading it out into low-density, single-family neighbourhoods that are harder and more expensive to service.
While some new housing diversity is expected across the district, the main thrust is toward walkable, transit-friendly areas where infrastructure can keep pace with population growth.
What’s next? Staff will now bring forward two versions of the plan — one that aims higher with concentrated growth, and another that sticks closer to the minimum provincial requirement. These will be debated by council later this year.
The final plan won’t just shape what gets built — it’ll influence how neighbourhoods look, feel, and function for decades. Expect more opportunities to share your thoughts in the months ahead.