West Vancouver Faces Provincial Directive to Boost Housing Density by End of 2025
The B.C. provincial government has officially directed the District of West Vancouver to make significant zoning changes by the end of 2025 to address the region's persistent housing shortage. As one of the province’s most unaffordable communities, West Vancouver has been tasked with implementing a set of ministerial directives aimed at increasing housing supply in key areas.
What the Province Is Requiring
According to the Ministry of Housing, West Vancouver must:
- Increase Density at Park Royal-Taylor Way
The district is required to amend its Official Community Plan (OCP) to allow for higher-density development in the Park Royal-Taylor Way area. This location is already a commercial and transportation hub, and the province sees potential for it to support more housing. - Rezone Single-Family and Duplex Areas Near Ambleside and Dundarave
The district must also allow more housing types—such as townhomes or multiplexes—in currently low-density areas surrounding Ambleside and Dundarave. These neighbourhoods, known for their single-family homes, will need to open up to new forms of development to meet future demand. - Adopt the Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan
Another key requirement is the adoption of the Ambleside Centre local area plan, which outlines a vision for greater residential and commercial density in the heart of the community.
All three tasks must be completed by December 31, 2025, a deadline the province says is necessary to ensure progress on badly needed housing.
What’s Next for West Vancouver?
The district had 30 days to respond to the proposed directives when they were introduced at the end of May. The province says the final version of the directive reflects feedback received from municipal staff and council, and aligns with some ongoing planning initiatives already underway in West Vancouver.
However, implementation is not likely to move forward until at least September. With council on summer recess, the mayor has indicated that the issue will be tabled for formal discussion at the first council meeting in the fall.
One major issue the district is grappling with is the future location and form of a proposed transit hub near Park Royal. There are concerns that the provincial plan for the hub lacks clarity, especially in terms of how it integrates with existing and future transit infrastructure, including possibilities like a SkyTrain extension or expanded RapidBus service.
A Period of Uncertainty
Complicating the rollout of the directives is a recent cabinet shuffle. Former housing minister Ravi Kahlon, who initiated the directives, is now Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, while Christine Boyle has stepped into the housing portfolio. This change has raised questions about how strongly the new minister will push for the directives to be enforced.
While the district is preparing internally, leadership is seeking clarity from the new housing minister before moving ahead. Given the scale of the changes—and the community interest they are likely to generate—the conversation about West Vancouver’s housing future is just beginning.
Stay tuned this fall as council begins navigating what could be some of the most transformative planning changes in West Vancouver’s recent history.