Quinte West council has zeroed in on a housing action plan for 2024.
The latest plan got approval after a staff presentation on the work and proposed projects at a May council meeting.
“The housing initiatives put forward in the 2024 housing action plan further the city’s ongoing strategic plan commitments to encourage the development of affordable housing in Quinte West,” emphasized Brian Jardine, the city’s director of planning and development, who walked council through the plan at the meeting.
While the initial plan was developed in 2023 as part of an application with hopes of securing federal funding, staff have continued working at the plan with hopes of future successes.
“The plan’s goals focus on making lasting changes that help to reduce barriers to housing supply and streamline and speed up housing approvals,” reads a recent release from the city.
The newly-approved plan also increases the number of initiatives the city will undertake towards these goals and aligns housing initiatives with available resources to help increase affordable housing supply locally, explained municipal staff.
City staff also say they will continue to pursue further funding opportunities through the provincial and federal governments, making applications to those aligning with the city’s housing goals and local opportunities.
Among highlights of the action plan is implementation of the College Street affordable housing project – its goal is to deliver about 48 affordable rental and medium-density residential units on the city-owned, three-acre former school site property.
The hope is this project will be complete by spring 2027.
Providing incentives to homeowners creating new accessory dwelling units and who make units available at affordable rates under this program is among another action item.
Meanwhile, a new e-permitting solution for building permits is aimed at streamlining application submissions and tracking; reducing processing timelines and increasing application certainty for developers, reported the city.
This initiative is to be implemented within a year of plan approval (possibly at the end of this year.)
To help fuel and drive home this plan, the city is also recruiting a housing action plan co-ordinator.
Learn more about the 32-page plan, visit quintewest.ca/housing.
To ensure ongoing relevance and effectiveness, staff have emphasized this plan will serve as a “live document” undergoing annual review.
Council also earlier approved the creation of a housing reserve fund, which in the words of the city, apportions a percentage of annual property tax levy towards implementation of housing initiatives. At the time of approval for the 2024 housing action plan, the reserve had a $1 million balance.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
