British Columbia鈥檚 Minister of Housing said there鈥檚 no need for a pause on approvals for single-family homes in 91原创 Township, after council indicated it was putting on the brakes.

Ravi Kahlon was responding to Mayor Eric Woodward, who at a recent meeting said he would call for deferral of all developments of single-family homes until they receive more detailed info from Victoria about reforms to housing regulations.

The provincial government is putting forward a sweeping series of reforms to housing density and zoning across much of B.C.

A major part of that is the end of single-family zoning in many areas. Under the new rules, threeplexes and fourplexes would be allowed on almost all suburban single-family lots.

Woodward has been critical of the plan, because significant areas in 91原创 are undeveloped, but currently zoned for single-family housing. Increasing the density could throw a wrench into plans for local parks, schools, and sewer and water infrastructure that are based on single-family density.

At a press conference where he was asked about 91原创 Township鈥檚 position, Kahlon said there was no need to press pause.

READ ALSO: Questions dog B.C. housing reforms at 91原创 Township council

鈥淢etro Vancouver in their own reports have highlighted that building medium density is actually more cost effective for the infrastructure that already exists,鈥� Kahlon said. 鈥淪o this will allow housing to be built with less investments needed for infrastructure.鈥�

He also addressed the difference raised by Woodward, between so-called 鈥渂rownfield鈥� development in places like Vancouver, Richmond, or already-existing neighbourhoods, and 鈥済reenfield鈥� development in areas like 91原创 and Surrey, where former acreages and hobby farms are being turned into whole new subdivisions, townhouses, or condos.

鈥淲ell, greenfield development is expensive for infrastructure,鈥� Kahlon said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of money to be able to develop housing in greenfield sites. So when we do make those considerable investments, what we want to see is the amount of housing that makes the most value for that infrastructure.鈥�

Kahlon also emphasized the need for greater density and more affordable housing options.

鈥淎nd we in Metro Vancouver have some challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have mountains, we have water and we have a border, we have very limited land and we have a lot of young families who need housing. What we need to do is find the most effective use of our infrastructure as it exists now to get the most amount of housing, and this is the best way to do that.鈥�

Kahlon added that the provincial government knows that young families are moving to Surrey and 91原创, and that the province is supporting that with new infrastructure, including new schools and hospitals in the region.