Delta mayoral candidate Granum vows to use local control over Bill 44 housing effects

Delta mayoral candidate Melissa Granum says Bill 44 is forcing density into neighbourhoods without adequate local planning or public input — but she's rejecting the argument that city hall has no power to shape how it lands.

"Bill 44 may be provincial legislation, but its effects are local," Granum said in a statement. She plans to challenge the provincial housing law and press the province to restore meaningful public input and give Delta greater flexibility in how the rules apply.

But Granum's first move as mayor, if elected, would be to use authority Delta already holds. The city can establish and enforce parking layouts, building elevations, tree protection and setbacks — tools she says council must deploy to make new development fit livable neighbourhoods.

"People are concerned about our trees, increased lack of parking, oversized buildings and development that does not fit the street or the neighbourhood," Granum said. "Those concerns are real. A livable-neighbourhood approach means Council sets clear expectations, enforces them and makes decisions with residents."

Granum will launch an immediate review of Delta's Official Community Plan and hold engagement sessions in Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta to examine how the current plan is being implemented and whether it is delivering growth that works for each community. The review will not be completed by the election; no timeline for the engagement sessions or plan revisions has been announced.