Inclusionary Zoning: York Region Seeks Flexibility

NRU
Oct. 5, 2016
Andrew Cohrs

When it comes to implementing inclusionary zoning, York Region is asking the province to give municipalities the flexibility to determine policies such as affordable rental calculations, development incentives, in-lieu payments and the required number and type of units.

Last week regional council approved its submission to the province on Bill 204: Promoting Affordable Housing Act. The bill proposes to amend the Planning Act, among others, to enable municipalities to use inclusionary zoning to require affordable units in all private sector residential developments.

Senior planner Sarah Cameron told NRU about the housing issues facing the region. She noted that only 11.5 per cent of the region’s housing stock is rental, the lowest in the GTA.

“In York Region, we really have two kinds of distinct market issues... on the ownership side there seems to be an affordability issue whereas on the rental side it is more of a supply issue.” She added that between 2005 and 2015 average resale house prices increased by 103 per cent whereas average hourly wages only increased by 18 per cent.

“We need all the tools we can get to address housing affordability, inclusionary zoning would be one more tool in the toolbox... [it] would help us to move away from those pockets of affordability and get to that more even distribution of affordable housing throughout our communities leading to more complete communities across the region,” Cameron said.

While regional staff is supportive of the province adding inclusionary zoning to the roster of policy options for promoting affordable housing, staff would like to ensure municipal discretion and flexibility when it comes to implementation.

In the report to the committee of the whole, staff identified the importance of municipal autonomy in determining how to apply the proposed legislation in conjunction with provincial minimums or baselines. Staff recommends local control over the price of both ownership and rental housing, thresholds for developments that require affordable units, the length of affordability agreements, development incentives, and standards for affordable units.

In addition, the report notes that regional municipalities may be in a better position than local municipalities to set affordable housing thresholds, administer waitlists based on eligibility requirements and maintaining the affordability of units over time. As well, staff recommends the proposed legislation permit off -site and cash-in-lieu opportunities, particularly for smaller developments, and the use both section 37 and inclusionary zoning as appropriate.

“The draft legislation itself is pretty bare bones, we are all waiting for the regulations to come out in the new year,” adds Cameron.