Newmarket Mayor John Taylor is disappointed in York Region's progress on affordable housing targets in a new draft regional official plan.
The new plan, the first in 11 years, comes after a comprehensive review process and will guide the region's future development. But Taylor said it is lacking on the affordable housing front, with changes needed to address three years of missing a target to have 25 to 35 per cent of new housing be affordable.
“That is a policy that didn’t live up to its fullest potential. What that ended up doing was creating a lot of one-bedroom condos,” Taylor said at a regional council meeting Nov. 11. “We’re not even meeting our target even in that area.”
The region has missed targets to have 35 per cent of new housing in regional centres and 25 per cent outside of centres, with only eight per cent of new units in 2020 classified as affordable. The draft policy does not shift targets but includes changes such as a region-wide target of 1,000 rental units per year, updating secondary suite parameters, and promoting inclusionary zoning, among others.
Some more comprehensive changes are being delayed for 2023. Director of long-range planning Sandra Malcic said staff is doing additional work to help meet those targets through a new housing implementation plan, which will be developed and advanced throughout next year and eventually incorporated through an official plan amendment.
“We need to have a better understanding of what the gaps are,” Malcic said. “We do anticipate a more fulsome direction, tools, etcetera, to be developed through the housing implementation plan.”
Taylor said he is concerned that work will not be done in time for the full approval of the official plan, which is expected to be passed in June after further consultation to meet a July provincial deadline.
“I had no idea it was going to be held off and sectioned off and being dealt with later,” Taylor said. “A little disappointing, but one year, I guess it’s better to get it right.”
Development decisions progressing
The draft official plan also includes changes toward future development, such as a phased 50 to 55 per cent intensification target and rezoning some agriculturally designated lands for development.
The regional official plan amendment 7, which will allow for park space in some greenbelt “fingers” in Markham and Vaughan, is also included. Although the amendment modifies the existing official plan, Malcic said it is included in the new one, with specific language. The language allows for recreational, agricultural and park uses.
The amendment faced opposition, with Taylor and others concerned by the potential precedent of rezoning greenbelt lands. But it still needs to be approved at the provincial level.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti emphasized the municipalities do not intend for the lands to be available for housing.
“There have been definitive statements about what ROPA 7 is and those statements ... are erroneous,” Scarpitti said. “ROPA 7 doesn't allow one house, not one house, never mind development, to occur on those lands.”
The overall plan is meant to accommodate anticipated growth in York Region over the next 30 years, with the population expected to increase by about 800,000 people in that time. It also includes sections on agriculture, transit, the environment and more.
"This plan builds on a strong foundation outlined in previous official plans, and guides sound economic, environmental and community planning decisions for all of our communities," Malcic said.
The official plan will move ahead for a public engagement and review period between November and May, including an open house and statutory public meeting.
