The head of the association representing local builders welcomes the outcomes of Saturday’s municipal election.
“[Mayor-elect] Fred Haynes has demonstrated a number of times that he is the most knowledgeable member of council regarding housing issues,” said Casey Edge, Victoria Residential Builder Association’s executive director. “Also, I think he tries to balance that with environmental concerns, so he is the most qualified to lead a cooperative and effective approach for this new Saanich council.”
VRBA did not endorse any candidates prior to the election, but in an earlier interview Edge singled out Haynes for his interest. “He is the first elected official to actually approach us,” said Edge last week.
Supportive open-minded candidates for #Saanich housing @HaynesSaanich @Rishi_ss @shawnSnewby @RJMersereau @NTaylor4Saanich @KarenInSaanich Long-term incumbents that must shoulder responsibility for obstructive, costly processes driving up costs: Brownoff, Brice #saanichvotes #yyj
— Victoria Builders (@VicBuilders) October 19, 2018
VRBA also has reasons to feel good about the new council. Three out of the five candidates VRBA had identified as “supportive open-minded candidates” concerning housing are now sitting on council: Rebecca Mersereau, Ned Taylor and Karen Harper. Shawn Newby and Rishi Sharma did not win election.
But Saturday’s vote also returned two incumbent councillors — Judy Brownoff and Susan Brice — whom VRBA has blamed for “obstructive, costly processes driving up costs.”
Edge said in a follow up interview that he is not concerned about Brownoff and Brice returning to Saanich council because he thinks Saanich has significantly renewed their council.
“My concern was a council that would have a ‘business as usual’ approach and I don’t think that is going to be the case,” he said. “Most new [councillors] seem to support a more efficient, effective administration and permit process.”
Relations between VRBA and the municipality have not always been free of tensions. In an interview just before the election, Edge said Saanich has a “reputation for some of the most obstructive and costly development processes” in echoing a familiar concern in the development community heard for several years. He’s also been critical of Saanich’s initiatives concerning climate change.
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Ask your #Saanich candidates if they plan to support boosting DCC's to the highest in the #CRD adding to some of the highest housing prices in Canada. It's never enough! https://t.co/F4veZQqRR9 #Saanichvotes
— Victoria Builders (@VicBuilders) October 19, 2018
Edge said the outcomes of Saturday’s municipal election in both Saanich and Victoria represent a “great opportunity” to address issues around housing affordability, as well as regional governance. Voters would like to see better cooperation between [government] and industry to achieve more housing affordability, he said. “Nobody wants development backlogs and conflicts that only drive up costs for homebuyers,” he said.
Ultimately, it is about striking a balance, said Edge.
“My advice to new councilors is to first learn how housing works and interacts with existing bylaws,” he said. “If some bylaws are good, more are not necessarily better, and often undermine housing supply and affordability. I am always available to discuss housing market realities with councilors, residents and the administration.”
He also praised the vote in favour of a citizens’ assembly to study the pros and cons of amalgamation.
“I think voters in both municipalities delivered the message they want more cooperation,” he said. “This is evident by the vote to study amalgamation in Victoria and Saanich.”