Canadian municipal mixed‑use housing approvals

In late July 2026, several Canadian municipalities moved to approve mixed‑use and rental housing projects despite local concerns. On July 29, the city of Salmon Arm, B.C., granted a development permit for a six‑storey, 100‑unit mixed‑use tower that sought a reduced parking requirement, while Winnipeg’s University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. received approval for a 10‑storey, 131‑unit tower with affordable units and a parkade, despite neighbourhood traffic worries.

Two days later, on July 31, Kelowna City Council approved a 100‑unit rental building with a 10‑year property‑tax exemption, lowered parking standards and no affordable‑housing component, arguing the need to address a 6.9 % vacancy rate. The council also green‑lighted a larger 233‑unit rental project. In Salmon Arm, Broadstreet Properties submitted a similar six‑storey, 100‑unit mixed‑use proposal featuring reduced parking, bicycle facilities and EV chargers, aligning with the city’s housing‑supply goals. The snapshots together show a pattern of Canadian cities using zoning relaxations, tax incentives and reduced parking mandates to accelerate housing supply amid high vacancy rates.