After rejecting zoning changes that would pave the way for more density and infill housing in March, this week West Vancouver council has reluctantly done an about face and moved forward on adopting zoning regulations demanded by the provincial government.

Council voted Tuesday to move forward with zoning changes that will see up to four homes allowed on most residential properties rather than three currently, and up to six housing units on lots close to bus routes.

Council voted to have municipal staff draft the bylaws at a special meeting called after Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle sent Mayor Mark Sager a tersely worded letter reminding him that the province could choose to overrule any municipality that didn’t fall in line with the required changes.

For West Vancouver council, the comment didn’t come as an idle threat.

West Van got a taste of the province’s willingness to use its legislative hammer this spring when it unilaterally adopted a new Ambleside local area plan after council balked at including two areas that would allow for higher highrise towers.

Boyle had set June 30 as the deadline for municipal councils to pass new zoning regulations.

In 2023, the province brought in legislation requiring local councils to increase allowable density on most single-family zoned lots to allow between three and six units, depending on lot size and proximity to transit.

More recent changes to provincial laws mean almost all lots must now allow between four and six units.

In theory, those changes would translate to an increase of potentially 12,000 new residential units in West Vancouver, according to a staff report, although it is expected to take decades for that to happen.

In March, council members refused to endorse zoning changes that would fall in line with the province’s request.

This week, however, council members were willing to reconsider, despite their displeasure at having the changes forced upon them.

In large part, councillors said they were voting for the changes because they feared whatever the province might impose if they didn’t would be worse.

Councillors made it clear they still aren’t fans of the way the province has been forcing its housing policies on local governments.

Coun. Linda Watt said B.C. has become “one of the most interventionist jurisdictions in North America on housing policy” pointing to restricting public hearings and demanding that local governments meet housing targets. “They’ve transferred significant planning authority from local government straight to Victoria,” she said.

Watt added “the province continues to treat land like it exists in a vacuum,” pointing to impacts on health care and traffic gridlock.

Coun. Sharon Thompson said housing does currently exist. “It’s just not the right type.”

Thompson added it would be “heartbreaking” to see the new rules destroy the character of existing neighbourhoods.

Coun. Nora Gambioli said she’d like to see more mention of subdividing and stratifying large homes and properties, as a way to add density without wrecking existing neighbourhoods.

Thompson added, “Fundamentally I think this is a flawed policy,” but said if the province imposes its own bylaws, that would be worse.

“Unfortunately, the government has demonstrated that they don’t care and they’re going to come in with a much heavier sledgehammer,” she said.

“The reality is, I don’t believe the majority of us believe it’s a good way to go, but the consequences are severe if we don’t.”

Coun. Scott Snider agreed. “I would much rather see a made-in-West-Vancouver approach designed by our extremely competent planning department … something that we have control over, as opposed to, again, having a bunch of shoeboxes built on these properties,” he said.

Coun. Christine Cassidy described the provincial NDP as a “socialist government” which was “not the least bit interested in what we have to say.”

Staff previously recommended the zoning bylaws continue to include homes that are two storeys plus a basement on most lots, as well as requiring top storeys be smaller than the first storey and that coach houses be smaller in scale than principal homes on lots.

Voting to go ahead with having staff prepare the bylaw changes still might not satisfy the province, now the deadline is passed, staff warned.

District staff said they expect to come back with a draft version of the bylaws in July.