PoMoreadyto addresshousing challenge:Mayor

mbartel@tricitynews.com

Port Moody’s mayor says the city is ready to step up its housing game now that it’s one of 10 municipalities targeted by the provincial government to help address the housing crisis.

Mayor Meghan Lahti said the city is looking forward “to working with the province to set housing targets and help ensure the right kind of homes are being built here.”

She added, “We recognize that there are opportunities to diversify our housing stock with affordable and senior housing, as well as accessible and familyfriendly units”

Last Wednesday (May 31), B.C.’s housing minister

Ravi Kahlon announced the Housing Supply Act will give the province the authority to set housing targets in municipalities, starting with those where the need is the greatest and which have the highest projected growth

He said the targets will encourage those communities to address local barriers to construction, like zoning bylaws and development approval processes, so housing can get built faster.

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The housing crisis is hurting

It’s market day in Port Coquitlam with the return last Thursday of the weekly farmers market at the Terry Fox Hometown Plaza on Kelly Street behind the city’s community centre. The market runs every Thursday, from 3 to 7 p.m., until September Left, Sam Fink-Jensen of Bruinwood Estate Distillery checks out the colouring of a flavoured gin. Below, there’s more than just food for sale at the market. Bottom right, the sunny, warm weather means local strawberries have appeared about two weeks sooner than usual.