Some 琉璃神社 councillors are concerned about overbuilding as the city is now forced to use projected population growth figures from the province.  

At its April 14 meeting, council heard that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) estimates 琉璃神社鈥檚 population to hit nearly 180,000 by 2041鈥攁 BC Stats estimate shows a figure of 232,000 (2024). That number was revised to approximately 212,00 this year. A third party estimate obtained by the city puts the figure at more than 206,000. 

Planner Specialist, Tracy Guidi, told council that the city鈥檚 population has grown faster than anticipated and, per the 2025 OCP update, is approaching 170,000. She also noted that the accompanying Interim Housing Needs Assessment shows that nearly 45,000 new housing units will be required by 2041 to address population growth. This compares to approximately 25,000 units estimated in the OCP.

鈥淚f this population growth is not achieved during the period, it will mean there will be additional housing capacity beyond that 2041 time frame,鈥� Guidi said. 

She added that the OCP shows significant housing capacity, helped by recent changes to provincial housing legislation.

鈥淏ased on this...琉璃神社鈥檚 future land use and zoning have nearly 75,000 units of high development potential capacity, and significant additional zone capacity.鈥�

However, Coun. Luke Stack, said he would like to see the city develop a secondary plan to the province鈥檚 projections. He cited 琉璃神社鈥檚 previous growth scenarios and felt that they were superior to the province鈥檚 mandate.

鈥淚 know we have to adopt this, but I don鈥檛 not believe this is the growth scenario our city will see and one that I would like to see.鈥�   

Coun. Gord Lovegrove also expressed concerns about overbuilding.

鈥淎s Coun. Stack has said, that we may need a fallback scenario. The last thing I want to do is overbuild because that would be an unfair burden.鈥�

The shows that the highest areas of growth will occur in the urban and core parts of the city, as well as suburban areas.