Municipal staff from Kincardine have been directed to prepare a response to the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs regarding how best to approach the need for affordable housing.
Some changes that could be considered include eliminating the requirement for housing developers to meet the current zoning code bylaw’s minimum requirement for floor space in housing units,
If this is removed, the requirements of the Ontario Building Code would establish the minimum size, which is 17.5 square metres, or 188 square feet. Removing that restriction could open up options for tiny home development.
Staff has also recommended looking at the option of selling surplus lands at market value.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, CAO Jillene Bellchamber-Glazier explained some of the options, saying “To sell surplus properties to the market and just let the market dictate the value and sell those properties, the council may then also decide to put that money into a specific reserve or reserve fund.”
She added “Additional requirements such as the maximizing the number of dwelling units on the property, that’s just a bit more complicated than what it is going to the market and just offering the properties up for sale.”
The last option within the staff report presented to council is to make the land in question development-ready. This would require a direct investment in pre-construction efforts, such as environmental assessments, traffic studies, archeological studies, and any included requirements needed for subdivisions or condominiums on the parcel of land.
Municipal Heads of Council received a request from the Provincial Minister for Housing to provide a list of top 5 priorities of the Housing Affordability Task Force’s recommendations.
Staff worked with their counterparts from Bruce County to establish a proposed top 5 for Council’s consideration.
