WHEREAS home ownership has become out of reach for the average family due to the rising costs of ownership seen across Ontario; and
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario adopted the “More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan” on May 2019 to establish a framework and goals to allow for the creation of more housing across Ontario; and
WHEREAS the Province adopted Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, which amended the Planning Act permitting two residential units in a detached house, semi-detached house or row-house, and a residential unit in a building or structure ancillary to a detached house, semi-detached house or row-house; and
WHEREAS on December 6, 2021 the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing appointed a nine-member Housing Affordability Task Force to provide the government of Ontario with recommendations on additional measures to address market housing supply and affordability; and
WHEREAS on February 8, 2022 the Housing Affordability Task Force provided its final report containing 55 recommendations on increasing housing supply to the Province for consideration, including the recommendation that a minimum of four storeys and four dwelling units be permitted as-of-right on a single residential lot, that secondary suites, garden suites and laneway housing be permitted as-of-right across the Province, and multi-tenant housing be permitted as-of-right; and
WHEREAS such as-of-right permission may create conflicts in established neighborhoods due to increased density related to neighborhood character, lack of privacy, inadequate lot sizes, road capacity, electrical services, and water and waste-water service.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
- THAT Staff BE DIRECTED to investigate options, including available legislative tools such as a system of licenses and registration, property standards, and any necessary changes to staff complements and taxation to ensure that conversion of existing properties and the creation of additional dwelling units in existing neighborhoods results in safe and appropriate housing; and
- THAT Staff REPORT BACK to the Planning Committee in Q2 of 2023 with the results of their investigation.