Council unanimously supports new Comprehensive Zoning By-law to create more affordable housing in Brant

By Casandra Turnbull

Paris

Councillor

Lukas Oakley’s desire to bring more affordable housing options to the County was passed with unanimous support from Brant County Council this past week.

To combat the need for a variety of housing options, Oakley presented a resolution before the Planning Committee on October 10th that would direct staff to develop a policy to upzone all residentially zoned, non-heritage properties to permit multiplexes. Since that Planning Committee meeting, Oakley had an opportunity to sit down with the County’s Planning Department staff where he was pleased to learn they’re already in the preliminary stages of drafting a new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw which will expand housing options in all neighbourhoods to create more access to equitable, sustainable community living. This Comprehensive Zoning By-Law will expand opportunities for missing middle housing forms in residentials areas, ranging from duplexes to low-rise walk-up apartments

Work on the Comprehensive ByLaw will commence as soon as the New Official Plan (OP) is approved by the province. Everyone is optimistic that the OP will be before the Minister Municipal Affairs and Housing very soon.

“The more housing options that we will be provided by these policies will allow our grandparents and parents to afford to downsize, and our children and grandchildren to purchase their first homes or find affordable rentals – in our community,” said Oakley

Not only did the motion to approve the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law receive full support from councillors, but also the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association. John Oddi, a member of the Association and longtime resident of the County of Brant and City of Brantford, was at Tuesday’s council meeting to lend his support Oddi stated that right now, the average price of a single detached home in Brant County sells for over $1 million.

Since the beginning of 2023, he said, average home prices in this area are up over 25%. “We’re not building enough affordable housing for families,” he added. He outlined that almost 70% of homes constructed in the County this year were single dwelling homes He announced that the Brantford Realtors Association supports the resolution a strong first step in offering more affordable housing in Brant.

“This decision is about the future –about giving our kids and grandkids a fair shot at owning a home,” he said.

County staff will work on the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law project and will report back to council by January 31st, 2024.