Thread by @CapitalDailyVic

Mayor Lisa Helps is the first to deliver remarks on the Missing Middle initiative.

"This is a 2020 action in our strategic plan and it behooves us to finish our work,” she says #MMHI #yyjpoli

She then quotes Wayne Gretzky: You need to go where the puck will be not where the puck is, if you want to score a goal

Goal Victoria is trying to score with #MMHI is "more housing for more people in our community," Helps says #yyjpoli

Helps also ties in incoming provincial legislation to accelerate housing development, as well as federal funding to support housing development

Returning to hockey metaphor, passing #MMHI today would put Victoria "where the puck is when it's passed to us down the ice" #yyjpoli

"Zoning is one of our most critical, most local, most city-led tools that we have in our toolbox," Helps says, touching on comments council should "stay in its lane" on policy.

Says young people in Victoria can't even imagine owning a home with current land use policies #yyjpoli

Coun. @MarianneAlto is next to speak, having 2nded motion on 3rd reading of relevant bylaw amendments.

She notes wide range of perspectives aired during public hearing, some conflicting.

If #MMHI vote is booted to next council, could be up to a year before it's considered again

Council can pass #MMHI, giving it ability to shape city's growth "or we defer and wait for the province to step in," Alto says.

She believes BC gov is "serious and that they will impose a growth plan in which Victorians will have no say" via expected legislation #yyjpoli

Alto plans to vote in favour, saying #MMHI is "essentially a 2 year trial run" with built in review #yyjpoli

Coun. @Stephen_Andrew is next. He notes tenor of debate "appeared ageist and appropriate from all sides" at times.

Says his decision on #MMHI is based on what he heard and lived experience, including living in public housing, "bout of homelessness" and now having a home #yyjpoli

Andrew will not support #MMHI vote today.

"If I'm honored to be at this council table in October, together with the new council, I will ensure that we bring a plan forward that addresses housing concerns and delivers solutions within 1st month of its mandate," he says #yyjpoli

Coun. Geoff Young is next, says #MMHI will "produce a decline in the quality of life for many residents" and will result in "upheaval" for many existing renters #yyjpoli

#MMHI has "a lot of shoulds in there as opposed to musts" when it comes to design guidelines, Coun. Young says. Concerned at least some details will be hashed out by staff, council and developers, rather than in public #yyjpoli

Young objects to suggestion lack of housing causes worker shortages (coffee shops, drywalling and ferries cited as examples during public hearing).

"What really has to happen is that we have to pay more for a lot of the jobs that have traditionally been low wage" #yyjpoli

Coun. @JeremyLoveday attempts to propose 2 amendments to policy direction to staff in #MMHI

Helps moves for council to shift to considering policy issues, which could inform coun. votes, to consider Loveday's amendments #yyjpoli

Loveday amendment 1: For #MMHI applications on "sites with heritage value, but without heritage protections, staff be directed to work with applicants to 1st consider house conversion for heritage infill prior to considering a missing middle project that would require demolition"

This amendment (motion arising) passes #yyjpoli

2nd from Loveday: That council direct staff to conduct the review of the missing middle program after 18 months rather than two years, including a new independent financial analysis and the consideration of adding more affordability requirements #MMHI #yyjpoli

2 year review to far out but there is not likely to be enough data after 1 years, Loveday says. A "2nd opinion" financial analysis could incorporate economic shifts happening quickly right now, he adds #yyjpoli #MMHI

It's "really quite elegant compromise," according to Alto, who 2nd'd Loveday's motion.

Sounds like most councillors want to respond to this motion #yyjpoli #mmhi

Andrew says the motion is "window dressing" to try and get #MMHI passed, is skeptical staff will be able to "bring back something of value" to council for consideration in 18 months #yyjpoli

Coun. @deardubow follows up on Andrew's questions about similar densification policies in Vancouver, Kelowna (more limited than #MMHI).

Dubow wants to know where those policies are at and whether any city in BC has passed policies similar to missing middle #yyjpoli

Dubow does not support the motion.

Coun. Isitt wants to vote in favour, as he is interested in putting #MMHI "on as short a leash as possible." He attempts amendment to shorten eval period to 1yr bu it gets no 2nd #yyjpoli

Coun. @sarahpottsvic also supportive of a shorter evaluation period and additional financial analysis on #MMHI

"We need some Victoria specific data," she says #yyjpoli

Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe likes extra financial analysis, is unsure about shortened review timeline.

Raises possibility of 0 applications under #MMHI, in time for shorter review

Staff suggest no building may have been done but apps will likely be received #yyjpoli

Thornton-Joe moves amendment that would have staff provide "short briefing" to council on #MMHI impacts after 6 months.

Isitt 2nds, Dubow does not think relevant data will be available in 6 months #yyjpoli

Helps is in favour of T-Js amendment, says whatever info is available could be a valuable "temperature check" for council.

Also expresses support for Loveday's motion, emphasizes she's hopeful vote on #MMHI bylaws will happen today #yyjpoli

Amendment passes, so does Loveday's motion.

Back to 3rd reading of #MMHI bylaw amendments, with Loveday still speaking #yyjpoli

Loveday pushes back against narrative there was not enough consultation on #MMHI, says the policy involved more public consultation than any other land-use policy he's seen during his time on council #yyjpoli

A lot of other great ideas to address housing affordability came up during #MMHI hearings, Loveday says - garden and secondary suite initiatives, Airbnb regulations, etc.

There was opposition to existing garden suite policy too, Loveday says, along similar lines to MMHI #yyjpoli

#MMHI would be "a meaningful addition" to tools city has to deliver needed housing, even if it does not "deliver truly affordable housing," Loveday says

He'll vote for the policy #yyjpoli

Coun. Ben Isitt tries another amendment, which also finds no 2nd-er.

He's proposing another one #yyjpoli

"I don't think missing middle is beyond redemption," Isitt says, but "absent affordability" he can't support #MMHI.

Proposed amendment would quadruple cash-in-lieu of affordability requirements for developers but, once again, there's no 2nd-er #yyjpoli

And with Isitt halfway through his time, council breaks for lunch! Back at 1:30PM to resume #MMHI deliberations, and with Isitt mulling another amendment #yyjpoli

Broken thread continues here

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