Top 5 things to know about Vaughan’s first-ever proposed plan on affordable housing

Like the U.S. and Toronto, Vaughan is considering inclusionary zoning

Yorkreigon.com
June 28, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Last year, a Minister’s Zoning Order triggered a conversation on affordable housing in Vaughan, and prompted local councillors to push forward for the city to begin its first steps ever on this simmering issue.

Amid soaring home prices in the Greater Toronto Area, the MZO -- backed by the councillors in November -- promised affordable units in a city that had no affordable housing strategy in the first place.

The councillors at the time asked for the city staff to prepare a report. Fast forward to a June meeting, here is what we know about the upcoming proposed plan from a report submitted by Haiqing Xu, Vaughan’s deputy city manager for planning and growth management.

1- CONSIDERING U.S.-INSPIRED INCLUSIONARY ZONING

The policy known as inclusionary zoning (IZ) policy, which requires new residential developments to include affordable housing units to create mixed-income housing, has already created at least 100,000 affordable rental units, and almost 50,000 affordable ownership units across the United States, including more than $1.7 billion in cash-in-lieu payments for affordable housing over the past 20-plus years.

Toronto is also following U.S. steps and is in the process of developing its own IZ policy.

Vaughan is now becoming a recent joiner. By Q3, 2022, Vaughan will get its IZ analysis that will examine its financial impacts.

2- CITY MAY ENTER INTO DEALS WITH NON-PROFITS

So far, it has been proposed that the affordable units would be conveyed to a non-profit housing provider who would assume responsibility for administration and ensure the ongoing affordability of the units.

3- TOO EARLY TO KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT

It is expected that external consultant resources will be required to assist the city delivering its affordable housing strategy. Xu’s report said that consulting fees will be funded through the approved growth management strategy capital budget.

4- IT’S GOING TO BE PART OF VAUGHAN’S OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW PROCESS

Planning for IZ will be “completed in close coordination with the city’s Official Plan Review (OPR),” Xu’s report said.

“The ongoing Official Plan Review will update a policy framework that considers a number of elements, including strategies, financial incentives, and tools such as an inclusionary zoning bylaw program,” it added.

“It is expected that the implementation strategy work, described in this report will inform the OPR review process.”

IZ will be incorporated as a tool after Ontario in 2018 allowed municipalities to implement it.

5- TIMELINE: IT’S A FIVE-PHASE STRATEGY

It will take up to three years to come up with the final version of the plan. However, even for its final phase, Vaughan council may be subject to additional reporting requirements since the Planning Act requires that any underlying assessment work be reviewed and updated every five years to be reflective of changing market drivers and policy evolution.

Here are the proposed phases:

Phase I -- Affordable Housing Implementation Strategy (Q2 2021 to Q1 2022)

Phase II --Housing Assessment Report (Q1-Q4 2022)

Phase III -- Inclusionary Zoning Impact Analysis (Q3 2022)

Phase IV --Vaughan Affordable Housing Strategy & Policy Updates (Q4 2022 to Q2 2023)

Phase V -- Monitoring (2023-2024)