HOUSING IN OSHAWA: DECLINING INFILL

NRU
Feb. 8, 2017
Andrew Cohrs

Despite strong demand for housing and a busy residential development industry, Oshawa is struggling to meet its share of Durham Region’s provincial intensification targets.

Oshawa’s recently released development activity and housing reports show that in 2016 only 15 per cent of the city’s new residential units were constructed within the built boundary, marking a sharp contrast from last year’s 33 per cent. The amount of infill development had been steadily rising since 2010, until this year.

Planning services director Warren Munro explained to NRU that previous years intensification numbers were a result of developers taking advantage of development-ready sites within the built boundary that were already serviced and had appropriate zoning.

“The low-hanging fruit has already been picked and we were very successful in the six years prior... Now you are left with sites that are little more challenging.”

Munro adds that the opening of the 407 Highway through north Oshawa has increased demand for housing in that area—outside of the built boundary. Additionally, he attributes the previous years’ higher percentages to “pent up demand” for denser forms of housing within the city.

Under the provincial growth plan, Durham is required to achieve a 40 per cent intensification target— new residential development constructed within its built boundary. Each area municipality is allocated its share of the regional goal to collectively meet the target. Oshawa’s target is for infill to comprise 39 per cent of its new residential development, more than double the proportion of housing constructed within the built boundary in 2016.

But Oshawa mayor John Henry is not concerned, telling NRU that the disparity between the growth plan and Oshawa’s results are not concerning.

“I’m not worried... Infill will always continue to happen as opportunities come forward.”

Munro agrees, saying that Oshawa has been successful at facilitating intensification.

“I think it is an ebb and flow situation and it will improve... We are very successful in terms of intensification here at the city, we have compound zoning that will allow for singles, semis, townhouses and apartments all within the same zoned category. We have a very robust two-unit policy [secondary suites]... We also have community improvement plans in certain areas which provide financial incentives for redevelopment of higher, more intense uses.”

Instead, Munro draws attention to the fact that the built boundary has remained the same since the growth plan was introduced in 2006.

“The built boundary hasn’t moved since it was established and the built fabric of the community has now changed. The province should be moving the built boundary and if [it] did that, I think that perhaps our number would be a little more reasonable.”

The housing and development reports will be considered by council at its meeting on February 21.