Shorter permit waits, seniors housing fast-tracked, and a freeze on permit application fees
Richmond Forward's housing pillar promises to reduce costly permit wait times, to incentivize and fast-track seniors housing, to innovate to make housing more affordable, and to develop more options for seniors' services. Howard's statement to the City promises "attainable seniors' homes". The platform gives no number of homes and no target time for permits.
HOUSING AND ZONING
Richmond Forward on housing
The H in S.H.A.P.E. stands for housing: "permits, seniors' homes". The platform's housing list has four items: reduce costly permit wait times, incentivize and fast-track seniors housing, innovate to make housing more affordable, and develop more options for seniors' services. Its accountability list adds a freeze on City permit application fees.
Howard's statement to the City says he has spent 25 years as an entrepreneur building seniors' homes, and promises to build attainable seniors' homes so residents can stay in the community. Eric Yung's statement says he wants a variety of purpose-built housing for all ages and stages of life, and that there are no quick fixes.
At the council debate of October 8, 2026, Richmond News reported, Melissa Zhang said infrastructure and services must keep pace with new homes. Romeo Bicego's statement to the City commits to protecting Richmond's agricultural land.
5 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS
What they say they will do
Reduce permit wait times
The platform's housing list promises to reduce costly permit wait times. It sets no target time.
Incentivize and fast-track seniors housing
The platform promises to incentivize and fast-track seniors housing, and Howard's statement to the City promises attainable seniors' homes. No number of homes or incentive is named.
Freeze City permit application fees
The platform's accountability list promises to freeze City permit application fees. It gives no period for the freeze.
More options for seniors' services
The platform promises to develop more options for seniors' services and to innovate to make housing more affordable. It names no program.
Protect private property rights
The prosperity pillar promises to do everything the City can to protect private property rights. It names no specific step.
What is not published
- The platform gives no number of homes, no target permit time and no cost.
- Howard is the organization's only elected member, and the mayor has one vote of nine on Council.
Sources
A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.
- Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 Elections BC · published · checked
- Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting Elections BC · checked
- Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections scanned reports search Elections BC · checked
- Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Candidate profile: Rob Howard, statement to the City City of Richmond · checked
- Candidate profile: Howard Jampolsky, statement to the City City of Richmond · checked
- Rob Howard For Mayor: home page SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Forward Voters Society · checked
- Rob Howard For Mayor: Vision, the S.H.A.P.E. platform SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Forward Voters Society · checked
- Rob Howard For Mayor: Team, with the launch release of May 26, 2026 SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Forward Voters Society · published · checked
- Former top cop vies for council seat, ponders future run for Richmond mayor's chair Richmond News · published · checked
- Candidates coming forward for fall Richmond city election Richmond News · published · checked
- Slates announced for Richmond fall election Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond election 2026: A complete list of local candidates Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: 29 council candidates face off in debate Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Rob Howard elected Richmond's new mayor Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Five fresh faces on Richmond city council Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Municipal election turnout rises by 15K in 2026 Richmond News · published · checked
- Rob Howard narrowly wins Richmond mayoral race CTV News · published · checked