The tour of Bruce County municipalities by Bruce County Housing Services has begun and the timing couldn’t be better for Saugeen Shores.
Manager of Housing Services Susan Earle and Bruce County planner Leah Andrews Barrie spoke to Saugeen Shores Council on Monday night.
The numbers message was the same as Earle told Bayshore Broadcasting News just before Christmas.
Over the next 10 years, 445 affordable housing units will be needed in the county and Earle admits that won’t even cover the number of people that will be on the waiting list.
The difference now is Bruce County planner Leah Andrews Barrie is going to help the town’s Planning Advisory Committee come up with a plan that will help fast-track zoning issues for developers who will be building these units in this municipality.
Barrie says the province mandates that every five years, municipalities need to update their Official Plans and comprehensive zoning bylaws.
It just so happens Saugeen Shores review is due sometime this year.
As a result, Barrie will help provide recommendations on how to promote affordable housing policies and to update zoning by-laws to make sure there are no barriers for future development.
Barrie and Susan Earle will be visiting other communities in Bruce County to get them on board as well.
On Wednesday — a similar message will be taken to Kincardine council.
