Delta council last week approved a bylaw amendment adjusting the size limit for new houses in North Delta and applying them for the entire city.
Mayor George Harvie said all neighbourhoods in Delta must be treated equally.
The planning department proposed that a cap be applied to all Single Detached Residential 6 (RS6) Zone and Single Detached Residential 7 (RS7) zones. The result would be the RS6 Zone having a maximum of 2,960-square-feet, while the RS7 Zone would have a limit of 2,691-square-feet.
Those numbers are slightly higher than what is currently allowed in North Delta and would apply to Ladner and Tsawwassen as well.
Following heated controversy almost 20 years ago about so-called monster houses in North Delta, council approved house size limits, created a new development permit process and even allowed homeowners to get together to downzone their streets in an effort to limit the spread of big houses.
The rules only applied to North Delta.
A report to council notes that staff also anticipate further related bylaw updates in the future to implement the directions of the provincial Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing initiative and allow multiple units on a single lot.
“In the meantime, eliminating the North Delta house size limit will establish a more harmonized development approach between Delta communities,” the report adds.
A public hearing is not required for zoning amendment as the bylaw is consistent with the OCP, according to staff.