The Municipality of North Perth is launching an Affordable Housing Plan of Action.
The first stage is to encourage those using or seeking housing to share their stories through 'Your Say North Perth' on municipality's online engagement platform.
In a release, municipal officials say some of the considerations being taken through the action plan involves provincial legislation. Bill 108 is the The More Homes, More Choice Act, and it made changes to the Planning Act which requires municipalities to allow the creation of two residential units in a single detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwelling.
Additional Dwelling Units are one of the most affordable and rapidly-gained forms of rental housing, and can be popular for a variety of different reasons.
“We have heard from a number of people – including those who currently live in North Perth and those who are attracted by the employment opportunities here – that affordable or even attainable housing is scarce,” said North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg. “This is flagging our orderly growth, and compromising our labour market in increasingly worrisome ways. With this Plan of Action, we want to be more rigorous in collecting information of impact – and I’m pleased to formally invite residents and potential residents to share their stories and ideas for action so that Council may consider its next actions.”
To determine the need and interest level in ADUs, and to explore additional affordable housing innovations, the Plan of Action includes a 3-stage process:
Stage 1: Creating and distributing consultation invitations that provide for input using multiple channels (Web-based, utilizing Your Say North Perth and social media; hard copies available at the Library, the Municipal Office and from the Building Department to share with developers/builders).
Stage 2: Serving Notice of Intent - Housing Summit, including providing public access to survey results and a consultation report, with interpretations, for community discussion.
Stage 3: Executing a Housing Summit Meeting that aims to identify further options for action and collaboration. (Local stakeholders [i.e., real estate companies, developers, builders, interested private home owners] will be invited to attend. The Housing Summit Meeting will provide interested stakeholders with information on ADUs, report survey findings, and seek input to identify future actions that can formulate part of the next steps in an Affordable Housing Plan.)
“To reach our goal of suitable housing for all, a great deal of community collaboration and goodwill is needed. Participation is required from a diverse range of housing consumers and housing developers, who are willing to discuss the challenges of housing affordability in North Perth and share their ideas and trepidations. We continue to focus our efforts on permanent solutions that will positively impact members of the community facing housing insecurity,” noted Kasenberg.
To contribute to the Affordable Housing Plan of Action, complete the survey by visiting yoursaynorthperth.ca/affordable-housing.
