Photo by B. Shakyaver
A report to South Huron Council on Monday, (May 6th) shed light on the impact of provincial policy changes on the local development and housing landscape.
County Planner Celina McIntosh’s report on Bill 185 and a revised draft Provisional Planning Statement (PPS) had some councillors voicing concerns about the future of affordable housing in the region.
Councillor Aaron Neeb questioned the definition of “affordable housing” – asking how it was determined.
McIntosh indicated that the acquisition of data would help to define the cost of living, and what was considered affordable in the context of local communities.
Another critical point of discussion centered around development charges, particularly the revocation of the contentious five-year phase-in period for changes to development charges.
Previous legislation capped the introduction of any new charges, by mandating a five year phase in, with gradual increases. This prevented many municipalities from making modifications to existing planning bylaws – and resulted in a hesitancy to modify development bylaws so as not to lose out on revenue.
Across the board, the province’s changes to their policy was received as positive, creating more flexibility in communities across Ontario.
Written by: B. Shakyaver