Signs point to a significant political showdown brewing in British Columbia, with the design and scale of new multi-unit housing developments emerging as a central flashpoint ahead of municipal elections this fall.
Public Outcry Over Design and Scale
Across Vancouver and other Metro Vancouver municipalities, hundreds of four-storey residential buildings are rapidly appearing on lots previously reserved for single-family homes. The primary complaint from residents, architects, and some elected officials focuses on their outsized and blocky configurations, which critics describe as visually jarring and out of character with established neighbourhoods.
This wave of construction stems from policy shifts aimed at boosting housing density. In September 2023, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and a unanimous city council moved to encourage four-to-six-unit dwellings on single-family lots to address the "missing-middle" housing shortage. This local initiative was followed by the provincial NDP's Bill 44 in late 2023, which mandated similar blanket upzoning for single-family lots in most B.C. municipalities with populations over 5,000.
Political Pushback and Policy Reversals
Resistance to this top-down density push is gaining momentum. Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, who also chairs the Metro Vancouver regional district, has been vocal in his criticism. "They’re untenable. They don’t fit in with neighbourhoods. I know there are a lot of upset people out there, and rightly so," Hurley stated. He highlighted concerns about lost tree canopy, eliminated lawns, and significant impacts on neighbours' sunlight and privacy.
In response to constituent complaints, Burnaby's council acted in October 2025, reducing the maximum height for such buildings from four storeys to three and decreasing maximum lot coverage from 60% to 45%. Even former NDP MLA Kathy Corrigan has called the structures "gigantic" and "shocking," noting Burnaby's larger-than-average lots have made it a particular target for developers.
The backlash is not confined to B.C. In a notable parallel, Calgary's city council repealed its similar blanket upzoning policy in December 2025 following widespread public discontent. Closer to home, the mayors of 16 Metro Vancouver municipalities, including New Westminster's Patrick Johnstone and North Vancouver City's Linda Buchanan, have urged the provincial government to rescind the Bill 44 mandate. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim was among those who did not support this call.
Election Issue and Future of Density
The controversy is now poised to become a defining issue in the upcoming civic elections. While small developers have embraced the new rules, the aesthetic and community impact of the buildings remains a primary public concern. The provincial legislation, which requires municipalities to permit up to six strata units on a single-family lot within 400 metres of a bus stop, is facing its most serious challenge yet from local leaders.
The core tension pits the urgent need for more housing supply against community character and liveability. As the debate intensifies, the future of density in B.C.'s neighbourhoods hangs in the balance, with voters expected to have their say on the issue at the ballot box.
