Faster permits, a "3-3-3-1" approval timeline, and no publicly funded housing that allows illicit drug use

HOUSING AND ZONING

Advance Richmond on housing

The organization's fifth value, "take responsibility", promises "better solutions for housing, youth, and social services". Its About page says it grew in part from concern about "poorly planned housing proposals", and its site lists a campaign called Stop CPH that asked for housing plans with consultation and oversight. The site names the project only by those letters.

Kevin Lai's statement to the City says City Hall delays increase renovation and housing costs, and that he helped organize opposition to the Cambie and Sexsmith Permanent Supportive Housing project. It promises to fast-track renovation permits that meet safety and building code requirements.

Grace Tsang's statement to the City sets out a "3-3-3-1" approval policy and a rule for rental suites and short-term rentals. She was not elected. Her statement says the organization's full platform is in the statements of all its candidates, so voche.me reads her points as part of that platform.

A post of October 15, 2026 on the organization's site shows a housing project advertised as "coming 2019" that it says is still an empty lot, and asks for a council that "cuts through red tape, makes housing truly affordable, and gets it built". Sheldon Starrett's statement to the City lists "affordable and aspirational home ownership" among his priorities.

5 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS

What they say they will do

• Fast-track renovation permits that meet the building code

  Kevin Lai's statement to the City promises to stop making homeowners pay for City Hall delays, and to fast-track renovation permits that meet safety and building code requirements. It sets no target time.

  City of RichmondAdvance Richmond Community Association

• A "3-3-3-1" housing approval policy

  Grace Tsang's statement to the City proposes three days for minor renovations, three weeks for detached homes, three months for multi-family and mid-rise projects, and one year for high-rises. She was not elected, and her statement says the organization's platform is the sum of its candidates' statements.

  City of Richmond

• Legal rental suites and owner-occupied short-term rentals under a "neighbourhood-protection rule"

  Grace Tsang's statement to the City promises support for safe, legal rental suites and owner-occupied short-term rentals under a "neighbourhood-protection rule". It does not say what the rule would contain.

  City of Richmond

• Oppose publicly funded housing that permits illicit drug use

  Kevin Lai's statement to the City promises to use every lawful municipal power to oppose supervised consumption sites and publicly funded housing that permits illicit drug use, and to enforce no-drug rules in public spaces and taxpayer-funded facilities. Sheldon Starrett told Richmond News after the vote that ending the Alderbridge modular supportive housing is on his agenda.

  City of RichmondRichmond News

• Affordable home ownership for younger families

  Sheldon Starrett's statement to the City lists "champion affordable and aspirational home ownership" among his priorities, and his page on the organization's site says the same for younger families. Neither names a program or a number of homes.

  City of RichmondAdvance Richmond Community Association