Some municipalities say they can't densify housing without infrastructure support from B.C.

Mayors and councils are reacting to proposed housing legislation that would allow increased density in all communities — and some say they'll need significant financial support for infrastructure to make it work. 

The proposed legislation is designed to get more secondary suites, duplexes, and other multi-unit housing built on lots traditionally restricted to single-family homes. 

But some community leaders say it will be expensive to build the water and sewage systems, roads, and other infrastructure needed to support such density. 

"We can't just willy-nilly stick up four- and six-plexes all around town without the infrastructure to bring people in," said Sooke councillor, and acting mayor, Al Beddows, speaking to CBC Radio's On the Island.

Sooke is a growing community 40 kilometres west of Victoria, with only one road connecting it to the rest of the region. 

While a stretch of that road was recently expanded, the section running through Sooke still sees delays as people commute in and out of the community each day.

"Our roads are built to rural standards and believe it or not, we have a rush-hour problem," said Beddows. 

He said the municipality is working hard to expand housing — including hundreds of new homes in multi-unit housing in its downtown — but to do more will take funding from the province to improve roads and transit. 

Beddows acknowledged the province has offered $1 billion for infrastructure projects across the province — but that Sooke's portion, $6 million, was not enough. 

Focused density 

North of Victoria, Nanaimo city councillor Paul Manly said his city has allowed density like secondary suites and laneway houses since 2005, and is in the process of allowing more multi-unit housing — with a focus on particular parts of the city. 

The idea is to keep density to areas where the infrastructure — like water and sewer lines, roads, and schools — can handle it. 

"It's really all set up to manage growth in a way that we're not having to deal with expanding infrastructure into all kinds of areas at a huge cost to taxpayers," he said.

Manly agrees the city needs more housing, and said the province has been a good partner. He says he hopes they'll be flexible with the new legislation and provide infrastructure funding if needed.

Infrastructure need can't be an excuse: minister

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the province has, and will, continue to support infrastructure projects, and to lobby the federal government for infrastructure spending, but that municipalities have to do more to get housing built now. 

"We don't want this to be an excuse for local governments that have not been approving the housing," he said. 

He agreed more infrastructure is needed, but said it must happen at the same time as housing. 

Kahlon said the proposed legislation is about adding housing where homes already exist — for example, replacing a single-family home with a multi-unit houseplex — so the required infrastructure would already be in place. 

He added it also allows for municipalities to get extensions on proposed deadlines, if they can show that a particular type of infrastructure is required — and that they have a plan to build it.