The Village of Pemberton Council has adopted a new Housing Strategy to address housing needs across the whole housing spectrum.
The strategy, adopted during the November 5 council meeting, is a guiding framework to ensure all Pemberton residents have access to diverse and appropriate housing options for every stage of life, the Village said in a press release. Pemberton had an average annual growth rate of 3.7% between 2001 and 2021, and key findings from the 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report say the community needs 271 new housing units by 2026. By 2041, as many as 1,076 units will be required.
In a press release, the Village of Pemberton said the Housing Strategy was developed from April to October 2024 and involved extensive collaboration between the council, staff, consultants, and residents.
Six core principles that guide the strategy
Choice and Accessibility: Ensuring Pemberton residents have various housing options for all stages of life.
Balanced Trade-offs: Acknowledging that trade-offs are necessary to deliver diverse housing options.
Responsible Growth: Managing development to align with community needs and long-term sustainability.
Proactive Compliance: Meeting current and emerging provincial legislative requirements.
Collaborative Solutions: Leveraging partnerships to enhance housing options.
Long-Term Planning: Taking action now to address future housing needs proactively.
The 2024 Village of Pemberton Housing Strategy is completed with work funding by the federal government through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
In March of 2024, the Village was awarded an agreement to receive up to $ 2.7 million in grant funding to support the completion of a housing action plan that will permit nearly 100 new housing units above the current growth trends. Completing the Housing Strategy satisfies one of eight initiatives to be completed as part of the HAF program.