CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The City of Charlottetown is developing a plan to address the affordable housing issue plaguing the city.
Back in the summer, the city passed the Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
In the meantime, the planning department has been working on amendments to make the incentives work easier. Those amendments were presented at a public meeting on Wednesday night.
One area they are tackling is short-term rentals.
The department is taking a multi-pronged approach in providing solutions to the housing shortage. Low density, single detached residential, narrow single detached residential and low density residential zones would now permit secondary suites and decreased requirements for garden suites, both which could be used for rentals and could help subsidize the owner’s mortgage.
“These housing options could not be used as short-term rentals like Airbnb or temporary accommodations,’’ said Coun. Greg Rivard, chairman of the planning committee. “These lower density zones could also be used to accommodate smaller-scaled group homes, thereby providing much needed housing to a vulnerable segment of our population.’’
Medium-high density zones, medium density residential, apartment residential, mixed use, commercial, institutional and the majority of the downtown zone can apply for density increases and parking reductions for affordable housing units, thereby reducing development costs and increasing unit counts. These zones would now permit boarding houses and larger group home facilities with reduced parking requirements.
Density entitlements are proposed to increase for medium and larger residential projects, anywhere from 20 to 40 per cent.
Rivard said any affordable housing project would also be permitted a 20 per cent increase in unit entitlements and if the same project provided 75 per cent of the required parking underground could qualify for an additional 20 per cent.
The amendments also include a decrease in parking requirements of 25 per cent for any affordable housing project that is within 500 metres of a public transit stop.
“We would also offer free design review for any affordable housing project. This ensures that good quality buildings are created and have a positive impact on surrounding property values and residents. The cost of the independent design review would be absorbed by the city.’’
The city is also prepared to waive all building permit fees.
Rivard said it is important to note that in order for a project to be considered affordable housing it would require some form of subsidy or rent assistance from either the federal or provincial governments.
These are just proposals for now. The final decision will be made at the next public meeting of council.
