Image of the day: Kelowna fourplexes
Fast-tracking of pre-approved designs
From the 200-page economic analysis of BC’s multiplex and transit-oriented policies. In 2017, Kelowna pre-approved and fast-tracked fourplexes in a new RU7 zone. This led to a lot of building.
Not only did the introduction of the RU7 zone dramatically boost construction within the area, but nearly all new construction led to replacement of single or duplex housing with 4-plex developments, either doubling or quadrupling the number of units per lot for a dramatic net gain in dwellings in the neighbourhood(s) affected.
Kelowna’s experience suggests that uptake of newly enabled attached housing options can be very rapid in places with high pent-up demand. But we expect the effects of highly localized reforms may be distinct from widespread reforms, potentially just channelling development pressure across the region into particular locations rather than increasing development overall.
In 2018, the city of Kelowna held a competition for designs that could fit multiple units of housing on properties within single-family neighbourhoods. The winning designs for a quadplex were given fast-track approval process, from over a year to just two to three weeks.
In the past two years, over 200 of these quadplexes have been built, creating over 800 new units of housing.
… as of 2021, the quadplex designs were no longer being approved for construction over concern too many were being built.