Housing Affordability = Increased Density = Inclusivity

The Bulletin's headline on this issue is that Kimberley’s current housing supply is primarily single family homes. This is unbalanced. Diversifying Kimberley’s housing supply will create more inclusive, dense communities that will be more pleasant and productive to live in, and will also be a key part to reducing our carbon footprint. The Nature Park is bigger than Stanley or Central Park, and that and many other beautiful areas around us will be preserved for when people need some solitude and nature, so increased density will not affect that directly. Many business owners are struggling to find staff, due to lack of housing affordability. This has been well reported by the City’s Housing Needs Assessment and many other sources. Years of underbuilding is the main cause of the housing affordability crisis, nationwide and in our community, and I think the proposed bylaw amendments do a stellar job of working towards fixing that.

Residence in Kimberley should not be limited to local owners, or the wealthy. We also need younger working people to move here to work in our businesses, start new ones, and to keep growing our vibrant, creative community.