As cities in Western Canada and around the world continue to grow, it's more crucial than ever to ensure that housing keeps pace with job creation. When people can't afford to live near where they work, the result is increased traffic đ, longer commutes đ, and urban sprawl đł that stretches our cities further into the countryside.
In a bold move, the Government of British Columbia has given the District of West Vancouver a 30-day deadline âł to permit small-scale, multi-unit housing đïž. See more about the initiative in the comment đ.
As noted by Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon, âWest Vancouver has 80 per cent of their employees that work for them coming outside of their community into town, leading to more congestion, leading to more traffic challenges. So itâs imperative that a community like West Vancouver allows different types of housing so that young families can find a way to live in the community, have access to wonderful schools and work in the community.â , See the article by the The Vancouver Sun in the comment đ.
This isn't just about convenienceâit's about sustainability đ± and quality of life đ. Urban areas like those in British Columbia need to build enough homes near employment centers to reduce congestion, lower carbon emissions đ, and prevent the kind of sprawl that makes our cities less livable. This need extends beyond just B.C. to any city struggling with a housing shortage.
However, addressing this issue requires more than just top-down mandates and strict deadlines. Rather than imposing solutions with a heavy hand, itâs essential to engage in open communication đŹ, provide data-driven explanations đ, and pursue well-prepared urban planning đïž. This approach allows communities to fully understand the impacts of their decisions and to create strategies that are tailored to local needs.
By focusing on collaborative, thoughtful planning, we can create vibrant, connected 10-minute neighborhoods (10-Minuten-Nachbarschaften) where people can work, live, and thriveâwithout the need for long, stressful commutes đŽââïž. The time for change is now. đđĄ
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