To help address Ontario’s growing housing crisis, the provincial government has assigned a housing target of 6,500 new homes to be built in Stouffville by the end of 2031.
Mayor Iain Lovatt recently told Bullet Point News that the Town would not commit to a target it can not achieve, and Town Staff have concluded that delivering on the province’s timeline for 6,500 new units is possible.
Stouffville’s current Growth Management Strategy provides a lower growth rate between 2021 and 2031, however pace is expected to increase significantly between 2041 and 2051.
“Staff do not recommend adjustments to the Town’s overall population allocation to accommodate the Province’s Housing Target,” a recent report explains. “Rather, staff suggest that it would be more appropriate to accommodate a faster rate of growth in the earlier years of the planning horizon to reach the 6,500 units.”
Beyond the Town’s new Official Plan, which will see significant density increases across various parts of Stouffville, the Pledge commits to facilitating additional residential units and housing types in all residential zones.
While the Pledge also promises to speed up development approval processes, it highlights the fact that meeting these targets is not fully within the municipality’s control.
“Community building requires complex collaboration between many stakeholders and partners,” the Staff report adds. “The Town does not build homes and cannot be responsible for when housing is or is not built.”
“Factors such as the market, supply chain issues, interest rates, inflation and material costs, labour shortages, land use appeals, provision of regional infrastructure, legislative changes and development approvals that do not proceed to the development stage are not within the control of the local municipality in the provision of housing within the community,” the Pledge explains.
Financial implications also remain unclear, as capital investments will be necessary to accommodate this new growth.
Impacts stemming from Bill 23 could also result in significant complications in the Town’s ability to fund needed infrastructure and community amenities through development charges. We discussed this issue with Mayor Lovatt in a past interview.
“The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville looks forward to further opportunities and discussions with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ensure funding for critical infrastructure, facilities and complete community development is available,” the Pledge states.
Council will address the report and its recommendations at their upcoming meeting on September 13, starting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Residents can speak to the report and pledge at the meeting, as well.
Stay tuned for more updates from Bullet Point News on this developing story.
