It's Vancouver's civic conundrum -- how to make the city grow in population as its physical size remains the same?
City leaders say the answer lies in Ecodensity, a plan to pack 'em into the 115 square kilometres of Vancouver, the green way.
"Growth in Vancouver means more density. You can't get away from that. We've used up all our empty spaces," said Vancouver city councillor Suzanne Anton.
"Bigger buildings should be greener buildings," she said. "They should all meet certain environmental standards."
Under the plan, new houses could be required or simply encouraged to have secondary suites.
Laneway housing -- mini homes -- could be allowed to be built in backyards, and in some cases, over garages.
And there would be more condos and apartments.
Critics of the plan charge the city could resemble a mishmash of high rises and substandard mini homes. They say Vancouver's beauty will be forever marred, as ecodensity could trump zoning.
"Basically someone comes along and says I'm going to create a roof top garden and put in something that is economically gimmicky, then they can go and put in three more stores, then get six extra stories," said Mel Lehan, of Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver.
And in a recent protest at city hall, some citizens voiced their own complaints.
"If I put a house in my backyard, my neighbour will know the difference because I had to cut down a bunch of trees," said Dunbar resident Jonathon Baker.
"If my neighbour put up a house in his backyard, I'll know the difference because he's cut down a bunch of trees."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Janet Dirks
