New rules mean Oakville will have to find room for 52,000 more homes: report

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Published December 9, 2022 at 4:09 pm

housing affordable online survey meeting
The Town of Oakville is hosting an open house to the public about its Housing Strategy and Action Plan at Town Hall on Oct. 18. INHALTON PHOTO

Neighbourhoods in midtown and uptown Oakville, the Bronte GO Station, and near Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital will have to bear the brunt of new housing demands called for by the Ontario government.

That is the assessment of Oakville’s top planners and staff following the new legislation brought in by the Provincial government meant to increase Ontario’s housing stock.

Under guidelines previously set out and now combined with the goals of the controversial Bill 23, Oakville is expected to accommodate 52,000 more housing units within the next decade, according to information released by the Town.

“Based on the information available so far, the new housing legislation will require the town to approve two to three times more residential units than what the development industry has built in the last 10 years,” according to new information released by the Town of Oakville. “It will be up to the development industry to build those pre-approved units amidst a labour shortage and supply chain challenges. To achieve the established targets set by the province, action and support is required by all levels of government, including the Town of Oakville.

Midtown, uptown, and the areas around the Bronte GO and the hospital have already been targeted as strategic growth areas, but that doesn’t mean that older, established neighbourhoods will be exempt from infill housing and more high-rises as the Town races to meet their housing targets.

Aside from trying to build more housing faster, the impact on revenue for the Town will also be severely impacted, according to a report that was recently presented to Town councillors.

The report also suggests that if the Ontario government doesn’t back peddle on plans that would reduce the fees municipalities can charge builders; Oakville will have to either cut the number of services it provides to the community or raise taxes significantly, or possibly both.

“The public expects all levels of government to work together to solve the housing supply crisis, and the town seeks collaborative efforts and financial support from higher levels of government,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “We remain optimistic the Province will come through on its pledge to protect the long-term sustainability of municipal budgets and help Oakville create a thriving future.”

 

 

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