I'd also suggest that the city allow strata sub-division, so that laneway homes could be bought separately and young folks could being to actually afford their own home...would also increase sense of community with even tighter knit neighbourhoods.

I was excited about laneway housing until I found out that I could only rent one, not buy one. Laneway housing is good for ecodensity (although not the best) but for people like me who want to go from renting to owning it doesn't help me at all. I'd buy one... but I wouldn't rent one. The current program is great for existing landlords only.

Great the first suggestion that actuall addresses one of the fundamental problems - planning - until the density goes up public transport will remain slow and inefficient & there for unuseable by many - keep up the good work !

Let us understand the role of municipal governments or Mayors in the ancient Greek /Roman cities when climate chaos was not a threat and Metropolitan cities of 2010 when we have to live to placate the climate gods or we might not get to live.
The lesser the dependence on the municipal governments the cheaper and more effective things would be. Recommendations in the nature that city of Vancouver should seriously educating people about the harms of suburbanism, are self-defeating suggestions; they have a flavour of admission that citizens are either too stupid or too irresponsible that the Mayor and VPD bust babysit and monitor them. City has to pay for every service and tax the citizens to break even. We can fully accomplish ecodensity on our own as well and that would be a lot cheaper and lot more effective. Let us all collaborate on growing up and stop being babies and burden on the Mayor the council. It would be nice if the participants limit themselves to somewhat creative, original and possibly innovative recommendations within the administrative or executive and legislative authority of the City of Vancouver and possibly the province of B. C., hoping that mayor would bug the premier to get those things done because for all practical purposes Vancouver or Lower Mainland is all that B. C., is made up of. Bravo to the city for addressing this issue intelligently and compassionately. Cheers to everyone.

I totally support the development of laneway homes. However, I feel this will not be enough in our efforts to achieve ecodensity. Planning Team, you've talked about not changing the "feel of the area", but wasn't our love for the "feel of the area" simply translated from our love of suburbanism? I wish one day the city will seriously educate people about the harms of suburbanism, then we can fully accomplish ecodensity.

All very good, but there would be hundreds by now if the permitting was streamlined and more affordable, and if the NIMBYism that slows down or kills so many ecologically sound projects was given less of an ear. Hope it gets easier for the little laneway homes :-)

@Michael Lyons, we agree. Laneway homes are a great way to add additional housing units within an existing neighbourhood without changing the feel of the area. That is why on July 28, 2009 City Council approved laneway housing in RS-1 and RS-5 single family areas on lots 33’ wide or wider. The first home built under this regulation was recently completed and many more are being built.

Read more here: http://www.vancouver-ecodensity.ca/content.php?id=47