Letter to the editor: City focused on "small incremental amendments" over "bold steps" to provide affordable housing

As a resident of the new Bainbridge Urban Village, I am in support of the letter writer that calls for more immediate action (Letter to the editor: Burnaby continues to ensure status quo of housing and affordability disaster). I am concerned about the city's lack of urgency in addressing the housing crisis in Burnaby. Despite having ample opportunity to make meaningful changes to the future housing stock, the city seems to be focused on small incremental amendments rather than taking bold steps to provide affordable housing for its residents.

A prime example of this is the Bainbridge East area, located between Bainbridge and Phillips Avenue. This location is ideally suited for low-density "missing middle" housing, with a park naturally separating the urban village from single-family homes east of Phillips Avenue. During Phase 2 of the urban village planning, the city conducted public consultation, and 74% of respondents supported the inclusion of Bainbridge East in the urban village plan. This overwhelming support should have made it a straightforward decision for the city to provide much-needed “missing middle” housing in this area.

However, to my dismay and for many of my neighbours, the city chose to ignore both the public consultation results and the housing needs of its residents by excluding Bainbridge East from the final urban village plan and designating it as a "Future Planning Area." This decision leaves East Bainbridge in limbo, with existing single-family zoning continuing to apply for most of the area. Furthermore, the houses on the east side facing Bainbridge Avenue have been rezoned to allow only two to three-storey rowhouses, in line with the existing single-family homes in Bainbridge East. This creates the false impression that the Future Planning Area will remain permanently designated for single-family homes.

The inability of our policymakers to take even simple actions, such as including an area that is clearly suited for “missing middle” housing in a well-planned urban village community, is disheartening. It is no surprise that it will likely take decades before any significant changes are made throughout the city to tackle the housing crisis.

I strongly urge our city officials to reconsider their approach and prioritize the implementation of effective policies that will provide affordable housing options for Burnaby residents. Delaying these much-needed changes will only exacerbate the housing crisis and negatively impact the future of our community. The starting point, at least in our neighbourhood is to begin the planning work to address the “Future Planning Area” now.

In short, let us work together to create a city where everyone can find a place to call home.

James Vong
Burnaby Resident