Thread by @CapitalDailyVic

And we're back! Coun. Isitt with an amendment, this one 2nd-ed by Alto.

This would double cash-in-lieu contributions from developers who do not deliver on affordability options for #MMHI projects #yypoli

https://twitter.com/CapitalDailyVic/status/1567959205818302464

Amendment carries and Isitt has another one, this one lowering the height of #MMHI buildings to 8.5m for a flat roof, 9.5m for other roof types #yyjpoli

This amendment also passes with Andrew and Alto opposed #yyjpoli #MMHI

Isitt now into his remarks on #MMHI.

"Capitalism is squeezing all species on Earth, including the humans," he says, noting Victoria needs more housing but it needs to be the right kind "particularly cooperative housing, affordable rental, affordable ownership housing" #yyjpoli

Isitt proposes a referral motion that woud have staff report back at next committee of the whole meeting with "recommendations on all options for strengthening affordability provisions and missing middle bylaws" #MMHI #yyjpoli

Thornton-Joe acknowledges the divisiveness of the #MMHI. "I wish there weren't always so many winners and losers in the decisions we make," she says.

Potts speaks in favour of the initiative, and says she doesn't agree with referring this to the next council. She says it's not "anti-democratic" for council to delegate developments to staff. "We did have a public hearing—but it did not seem to foster democracy," she says.

"We can't frame it as a piece of the puzzle to relieve the pressure," @deardubow says, speaking against the motion. "People are being displaced; we have to continue the advocacy to the provincial level to stop the displacement."

"We can't rely on a market solution to the housing crisis," @deardubow continues. "This idea that it's all about single-family housing: it doesn't seem to just be about single-family housing zoning any longer, it's about abolishing zoning altogether without context."

He laments that "market fundamentalists" trying to abolish zoning are being naïve toward what the market would actually deliver.

"We can't keep doing the same thing," @MarianneAlto says, calling further delay "unsupportable." Calls MMHI a tool—though not a perfect one—that has been in the works for more than two years.

"How much longer do I have to sit outside your community and wait for permission to come in?" she says, quoting someone who she says approached her about the initiative. "I don't think we can wait; I don't think we should wait."

Loveday says he doesn't support punting the motion to the next council. Says it's been a strategic priority of *this* council—and that the next one would have no barrier to creating a new motion if this one fails.

Young supports referring the motion to the next council. "We've done our part," he says, though he "would hope the province doesn't implement what's been hinted at, which would be removing zoning power from municipal councils."

Council officially just punted #MMHI to after the election.

After two years, the future of Missing Middle has been thrown into uncertainty—with many would-be councillors already staking out strong positions for and against the initiative.

Our story on how Missing Middle ended: capitaldaily.ca/news/missing-m…