Housing Accelerator Fund

About the Housing Accelerator Fund Program

In March 2024, Gibsons was awarded a $2.3 million grant through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which provides funding to local governments to help remove barriers, increase housing supply, and improve housing affordability in their communities. This agreement will result in the creation of 274 additional homes in Gibsons over the next three years and is projected to contribute to the development of 900 homes over the next decade.

HAF Initiatives

#1: Develop a Gentle Density Program – Complete

Milestone 1: Gentle Density – Community Education (Residents Assembly and OCP engagement – done)

Milestone 2: Determine pre-approved designs for gentle density housing to reduce building permitting timelines. (Infill housing design competition – done)

Milestone 3: Undertake a comprehensive review of the garden suite program to expand it and reduce barriers to development (Part of OCP, zoning, and DCC review and update – done)

Milestone 4: Undertake a comprehensive review of the multi-plex program that looks at achieving greater multiplex density in key areas and corner lots. (OCP page – done)

Milestone 5: Pre-zone identified areas to support the development of new and gentle-density housing units. (OCP/ZB page –done)

#2: Review Parking Program – Complete

Milestone 1: Undertake an in-depth parking strategy to consider options for the reduction or elimination of off-street parking requirements. (Parking Strategy – done)

Milestone 2: Review parking regulations in the Zoning Bylaw to reduce off-street parking requirements (Parking Strategy & OCP/ZB page – done)

#3  Review and Expand Density Bonusing – Complete

Milestone 1: Bonus Density – Community engagement. (Residents Assembly and OCP engagement – done)

Milestone 2: Undertake a highest and best use study (Market and Financial Analysis on OCP page – done)

Milestone 3: Developing policy and preparing amendments for Zoning Bylaw No. 1065 (OCP/ZB page – done)

#4:  Develop a Comprehensive Land Strategy – Complete

Milestone 1: Work with regional partners to identify/secure public lands for non-market and affordable housing projects and to activate under-utilized lands (917 O’Shea Rd – Phases 1-3 – done)

Milestone 2: Identify and tender municipal lands for priority housing developments, undertaking a (p)rezoning where required, to reduce development barriers (917 O’Shea Rd – Phase 2 – done)

Milestone 3: Develop a partnership framework and incentives package to support the development of mixed-income housing on municipal and other lands (Developer Incentive Package – done)

#5: Official Community Plan Update and Implementation – Complete

Milestone 1: Review density designations across all areas of Gibsons (OCP/ZB page – done)

Milestone 2: Implementation plan for amendments to the Zoning Bylaw No. 1065.

Milestone 3: OCP Engagement (OCP/ZB page – done)

Milestone 4: Redesignate land for higher density throughout the Town to provide better clarity and enhance the development approval process. (OCP/ZB page – done)

Milestone 5: Review of development permit area guidelines to provide greater clarity and enhance the development approval process. (OCP/ZB page – done)

#6: Build Housing on Municipal Land – Complete

Milestone 1: Increase Housing Supply (917 O’Shea Rd – Phase 2 – done)