Affordable Housing Official Plan Amendment and Community Improvement Plan - Executive Summary

Executive Summary: Affordable Housing Official Plan Amendment & Community Improvement Plan

Official Plan Amendment

Identify 4 specific policy additions that support and encourage different housing types and tenures in the Town:

  1. Shared housing – allows for greater development of different models and innovative housing forms
  2. Maximum of 20% of Single Detached Dwellings permitted in New Development – The remaining 80% would be made up of more dense types of development (small scale housing, semis, towns, and apartments) within greenfield development
  3. Accessory apartments – allows for both attached and detached secondary suites on existing residential properties
  4. Provide a new definition for small scale housing which will create the opportunity for the development of units that are smaller than traditional units. While generally this can cost more per square foot to produce, because of their smaller size, and reduced lot requirement, the result is greater affordability.


It is the intent that these policies will be to continue to encourage various types of housing that will range from traditional to innovative and result in more affordable rental and ownership options throughout the Town.

Community Improvement Plan

Applicable to any zone that permits residential development within the Urban Area Boundary and includes the following programs:

  1. Affordable Housing Planning Fee Grant – 100% of the planning fees are rebated upon approval of the project (Zoning, Official Plan Amendments, Site Plan)
  2. Affordable Housing Tax Increment Grant Program – 100% of the tax increase is rebated back for a certain amount of years (TBD)


It is the intent of the CIP to offer financial incentives to developers in order to offset the cost of development in the Town and encourage the creation of units within a development.

For more detailed information on the Official Plan Amendment or the Community Improvement Plan, please see the document section of this website.

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