Stouffville’s Housing Action Plan: A Bold Step Toward Affordable Housing
As the urgent need for affordable housing continues to shape communities across Canada, the Town of Stouffville has taken proactive measures by updating its Housing Action Plan. This revised proposal aims to secure funding from the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), which is designed to facilitate housing development through targeted reforms and financial support.
A New Opportunity: The Federal Housing Accelerator Fund
Administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the HAF recently launched its second stream, providing $400 million in funding aimed at accelerating housing delivery. The initiative intends to incentivize municipalities to reform existing zoning laws and policies, making it easier to develop new housing projects. Stouffville’s updated Housing Action Plan represents its second attempt to secure funding after an unsuccessful application in 2023, where over 500 municipalities vied for a share of a $4 billion fund.
Estimated Costs and Goals
The initiatives outlined in Stouffville’s Housing Action Plan carry an estimated cost of $2.35 million. These initiatives are designed not only to streamline the development approval process but also to increase the availability of affordable and diverse housing options. The ultimate goal is to foster complete communities that accommodate a wider demographic and address the growing housing crisis.
If successful, the Town anticipates that this plan could yield an additional 345 housing units over the next three years, a significant step toward alleviating local housing shortages.
Strategic Use of Funding
According to a recent staff report, the primary purpose of HAF funding is to implement initiatives detailed in the Housing Action Plan. Beyond this, the funding can also support investments in housing-related infrastructure, including roads, recreational facilities, and essential services like water and wastewater systems. This comprehensive approach ensures that new housing developments are not only about building units but also about creating sustainable communities.
Learnings from Past Applications
Stouffville is not alone in its pursuit of HAF funds; it joins several northern York Region municipalities that also faced setbacks in the first stream of applications. The lack of tailored feedback from the CMHC regarding rejected proposals has sparked calls for reassessment from regional representatives. In light of these challenges, the second stream of the HAF provides a critical opportunity for municipalities to refine their applications.
In April, the federal government announced the second round of funding, granting municipalities a second chance to strengthen their proposals. In support of this effort, the CMHC has provided a list of best practices based on successful applications. These practices encourage local governments to expand zoning permissions, promote higher densities near transit corridors, minimize parking requirements, and remove restrictions related to building heights and unit counts.
Innovative Council Resolutions
In response to the new funding opportunity and the best practices outlined by the CMHC, Mayor Iain Lovatt proposed two key resolutions. One resolution seeks to allow “as-of-right” permissions for fourplex developments, which would enable more housing units to be constructed in a single building. This proposal garnered narrow support from the Council, passing with a 4-3 vote.
Conversely, a related resolution aimed at reducing parking minimums faced robust opposition, with four out of seven Council members voting against it. Despite this, the updated Housing Action Plan includes a study to evaluate parking requirements for medium and high-density developments, emphasizing the need to accommodate growth while remaining conscious of residents’ parking needs.
Making Room for Growth
The Housing Action Plan’s proactive strategies include incentivizing the development of affordable units and identifying areas for house-scale infill developments. This strategy aims to maximize the number of affordable housing units within Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) developments, a critical focus for a growing community like Stouffville.
The town also plans to enhance its growth management assessments, improve its development services software to accelerate decision-making, and streamline the site plan approval process. A proposed Servicing Allocation Study will focus on reviewing capacity policies, ensuring that approved projects move forward in a timely manner.
By permitting a total of 1,090 new housing units over the next three years, Stouffville aims to expand its portfolio significantly. If secured, the additional units funded through the HAF could increase the percentage of affordable housing from 2.5% to 9%—a considerable boost for the community’s low-income residents.
Contingency Plans and Future Budgeting
Should the second application to the HAF be denied, the staff have assured that the initiatives within the Housing Action Plan will be folded into future capital plans proposed during the 2025 budget process. This determination underscores the Town’s commitment to addressing housing challenges, regardless of external funding opportunities.
In conclusion, Stouffville’s updated Housing Action Plan is not just a bid for funding; it is a roadmap for sustainable community growth and inclusivity. As the town navigates these ambitious initiatives, it sends a clear message: affordable housing can and must be a priority in developing vibrant, inclusive communities. With a renewed application for the HAF, Stouffville is poised to take significant strides in resolving its housing crisis, potentially setting a model for other municipalities facing similar challenges.
