Karenn Krangle, in Novae Res Urbis, covered the Planning Department’s report on the City’s use of Community Amenity Contributuins (CACs) – $133 million work in 2013.
What jumped out:
- $63 million contributed to affordable housing
- $27 million for parks and open space, including public art
- $22 million for community facilities
- $13 million for heritage efforts
So, over half for housing – a major shift, and a reflection of current council’s priorities.
“Approximately half of these contributions were offered in kind, meaning that they will be provided on-site by the developer when the new developments are constructed,” the report says. …
… five large rezoning approvals accounted for 60 per cent of all additional floor area approved and 70 per cent of all contributions committed.
… approvals of additional density represent only 3 per cent of overall development permits issued in 2013.
All rezonings downtown are processed with negotiated CACs on a site-by-site basis, the report says, while the rest of the city is covered by the city-wide CAC policy, which sets out a framework for standard rezonings, non-standard rezonings, and exemptions from CACs. …
Th e flat-rate versus negotiated approach has also been widely discussed, with developers preferring the certainty of fixed rates. Head planner Brian Jackson said that has been changing.
“… about 15 to 20 per cent were fixed-rate targets, to now we’re up to about 50 per cent, and we’ve done that through the area-planning process and by setting a fixed rate on the Cambie corridor …”
