By Pepper Parr
October 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We will hear a lot about “inclusionary zoning’ in the years ahead. The current city council sees it as a part of the solutions that are going to be used to find a way to make housing more affordable.
News reports have said that the Premier, Doug Ford will cut development fees on affordable housing – those fees are an important funding source for the city. Without that money who is going to pay for the work the planning department has to do.
The reports are that the Doug Ford government is planning to scrap fees on “inclusionary zoning” projects immediately after the Oct. 24 municipal election in order to expedite housing construction, according to the Toronto Star.
Inclusionary zoning allows cities to mandate lower-cost housing units in new developments.
Many housing projects, however, have been thwarted by “exclusionary zoning” rules by opponents of development.
The strength of the “Not in my Neighbourhood” crowd is something few municipal councillors want to go up against.
If the homes that will be needed to house the big, big population growth we know we have to deal with – someone is going to have to make decisions – it is clear that the Premier is going to try and do what the municipalities don’t want to do.
Related news story:
Just what is inclusionary zoning?
The development sector understand what it is – they expect every level of government to buy in.
City won’t lose any money in Burlington if the Premier cuts fees for developers who build affordable housing – even when they promise to, they still don’t. Make sure there is a clause stating they can be liable for fees retroactively if they renege.
The City will raise development fees on builders and developers on other projects and the cost will be passed on to the new purchasers. The new home purchasers will be subsidizing and paying for affordable housing. The rest of the people living in the new condo’s will have to pay more for their units and the developer will get 10 to 15 extra story’s in height and build ghetto’s. Can’t think of a worse place for a child to grow up.