5 - Sunday, September 17, 1989 ~ North Shore News INSIGHTS The housing problem is really a people problem KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL, your nose tc the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel. Now try to work in that position. This paradoxical epigram humorously points out that some situations are just impossible. A somewhat similar situation ex- ists today in housing markets across Canada, but in particular in the Vancouver housing market where there is a widening sensc of crisis. In the case of housing markets in general, the epigram would go something along the following lines. Don’t build buildings which use all the land available under ex- isting zoning laws. Be sure not to build more units than are allowed under existing zoning laws. Make sure to build housing which can meet the approval of the bureau- cratic tastes of the City’s planning department. Mix airiness, green space and a sense of joie de vivre in a nature-meets-residential-hous- ing kind of way. Don’t cut down any existing trees. Ensure that the design fits in with previously ex- isting buildings and, by the way, don’t do anything to irritate ex- isting homeowners in the area. Meanwhile, produce rental housing which will rent at a price which makes it affordable for all Van- couverites. , It is particularly puzzling to hear long-time residents of such high- quality residential neighborhoods as Kerrisdale, in Vancouver, com- plain that none of their children can afford to purchase housing or even to rent housing because of the housing crisis. These same residents are bitterly opposed to any increase in the density of resi- dential housing in their area. In reality, the problem that plagues housi markets in Van- couver, as in the rest of Canada, is the unwillingnes: of sitting resi- dents and tenants to have their neighborhood quality changed by an influx of new individuals whose housing would interfere with the Tuesday. Onerous hours right to ask whether their elected council was Nea VANCOUVER District voters have a conducting effective business at 12:30 a.m. on By MICHAEL WALKER Guest Columnist amenities already enjoyed in those neighborhoods. So what we have in our major metropolitan areas these days is not a housing prob- lem but a people problem. People, in the reflection of their tastes, have put pressure on local gov- ernments to ensure that wherever “In reality the problem that plagues housing markets in Vancouver, as in the rest of Canada, is the unwillingness of sitting residents and tenants to have their neighborhood quality changed by an influx of new individuals...’’ newcomers to the housing market may be accommodated, it won’t be in their neighborhood, or be per- mitted to have any effect on their neighborhood. In Kerrisdale and other such neighborhoods the possibility of more intensive utilization of the land which is closest to the city centre is effectively prohibited by zoning laws which determine the uses to which the existing land may be put. It is tragic beyond belief that in those parts of our cities where land development and redevelopment is required, proper- ty developers have been chased off by the restrictions imposed by ex- isting laws. . In turn, these restrictions emerge from zoning laws which in part are intended to protect sitting home- owners and tenants from the potential effects of newcomers. The natural response of the hous- ing market would be to build more units per briiding block in order to drive down the land costs of each housing unit — were it not for zoning prohibitions against this. Evidently, increased density of this kind also may reduce the attrac- tiveness of the neighborhood from the point of view of existing te- nants and owners. While zoning laws do protect ex- isting owners and tenants, they provide little or no flexibility for newcomers to persuade them to give up some of their amenities in return for financial considerations. In other words, new tenants or new condominium owners are not able, via property developers, to make offers to local residents of a financial kind which would induce them to change their mind about the existence in their neighborhood of a new development which has higher than usual density. What is needed is some mecha- nism for making the zoning ordi- nances, in effect, more flexible in response to the changing needs of the community. In any event, it is quite clear that we shouldn’t be calling the shortage of housing in Vancouver, or anywhere else at this moment, a housing crisis. Cali it a zoning crisis. Call it a people problem or a NIMBY (not in my backyard) problem. Call it a regu- lation crisis or governmeri failure but don’t call it a housing crisis. Dr. Michael Walker is Director of the Vancouver-based Fraser In- stitute, a free enterprise economic think tank. Golden Agers Award A REASON to be proud ... 96-year-old Arthur Milne shows his PNE Golden Agers Award for the best exhibit from a person over 65 years of age. Arthur also won an award of excellence for his Highland piper rug hooking, a first for drawing, 2 first for weaving and a third for woodworking. . NOEL WRIGHT IS ON VACATION While the public hearing that preceded Monday night’s council agenda ran fer two hours, it was not the first time this year that council meetings have dragged past midnight. District council regularly sits past 11 p.m. aad often continues to meet in-camera after the regular agenda is concluded. While the demonstrated commitment to an onerous workload is laudable, it is questionable whether district residents are best served by tired minds consistently grappling with complex and sensitive issues so fate at night. When aldermen lose their temper and storm out of meetings, as has happened several times this year, decisiozis are made without benefit of full voter repre- sentation. NEWS photo Cindy Goodman A FENDER bender is not a nice way to end your day. Last week a van travelling on the Upper Levels high- way, carrying fruits and vegeiables lost a box of goods, }zaving motorists to swerve around the debris. For this Hyundai driver, the result was a rear-end cellision. 980-0511 Council does bring forth to subsequent meetings all Publisher ........... Peter Speck fetes coreee ms §=——-Display Advertising cluse vote decisions made when aldermen are absent, Managing Editor... Barrett Fisher 1 shore Classified Adverirs:na 966-6222 but this results in repeat business being added to al- Associate Editor ..... Noel Wright Disibotion 986.1397 ready overloaded agendas. Advertising Director . Linda Stewart - hal Subscriptions 986-1337 SUNDAY = WEDNCSOAY = FHIDAY Fax 985-3227 North Shore News, founced in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph Ill of the Excise Tax Act. is publisned each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free press ie and aistriouted ° every door on the Noun hore. Second Class Mail Aegistration Number a Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year §9,170 (average, Wednesday Mailing rates available on request. Submissions are Friday & Sunday) welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures a which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. SDA DIVISION It is ultimately the mayor’s responsibility to decide how much political posturing will be suffered for the sake of everybody ‘‘having a turn’’. North Vancouver District Council meetings should be shorter: for the sake of ithe voters, for the sake of staff, and for the sake of the aldermen themseives. 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 MEMBER