York Region is progressing on a 2021 commitment to have municipalities donate land for affordable housing but has yet to enact the process.
In February 2021, York Region passed a resolution from Newmarket Mayor John Taylor that municipalities commit in principle to donate two acres of land over the next five years for affordable housing. But only some of the municipalities have committed to donating this land, but the donations have yet to happen with the region preparing a process to go ahead this year.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said he is good with the progress.
"I’m pleased with where we’re at,” he said. “It’s moving that forward, it’s helping us establish a pipeline. The question is how quickly we can work through the pipeline."
The resolution aims to ensure that land availability for affordable housing development. In response to the February 2021 resolution, the region established the municipal land contribution program, with staff working to formalize the program.
York's acting general manager of housing services Karen Antonio-Hadcock said preliminary work has included reviewing pilot sites and investigating best practices in land banking. She added that the region will release an updated community development master plan this year, which will include a completed land contribution program.
Newmarket, Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville all committed soon after the February 2021 resolution. East Gwillimbury directed the request to the York Region’s mayor's task force to “ensure an appraised and consistent approach gets taken” across all municipalities. Markham indicated it would address the request through its own affordable and rental housing strategy.
King did not support the donation of land, indicating it supported the affordable housing plan and the intensification of lands in the region well outside of its borders. Vaughan also rejected the proposal, indicating “it does not have surplus property at this time” in 2021.
In passing its affordable housing strategy in July 2021, Richmond Hill staff indicated it aligns with regional resolutions, including the one on donating land. But a report said it would be prudent to investigate further before providing a resolution of support to the region.
An October 2021 report from York Region indicated Richmond Hill and Aurora had not yet given fulsome replies to the council resolution. Asked to confirm which municipalities had agreed to donate land, the region said it is working with all nine local municipalities on this and "are in various stages of progress."
On Newmarket’s end, Taylor noted the agreement with the Shining Hill development will have two acres of land ready for affordable housing.
He said he would love to see all nine municipalities commit to donating the land but said the resolution has worked as intended.
“To have motions at council to show they conceptually or in principle support finding and providing land, and to create a pipeline across the region for new development opportunities.”
Still, Taylor said there are challenges in funding, with projects often requiring grants from upper levels of government to get going.
“I always knew that there would be a problem, eventually, (with) how quickly we could build them all, “Taylor said. “But we’re at least doing our part at the lower tier and the region to try to get ready, to have sites.”
