Motion calls for Region to support Fort Erie’s affordable housing efforts
November 20, 2024 at 3:32 AM
As Fort Erie councillors get ready to consider a community improvement plan (CIP) centred on affordable housing, they’re also sending a message to their regional counterparts that they shouldn’t have to go it alone.
Councillors passed a motion at the November 18 council meeting calling on a partnership between the regional government and the local municipality to support affordable housing efforts.
Council waived its usual rules to get the motion passed immediately, in hopes of getting some kind of response before staff present a report on a proposed affordable housing community improvement plan next month.
“I think it would be helpful if we put down a marker that the Region is aware…(that we) request the Region develop an affordable housing CIP to partner with local area municipalities,” said Mayor Wayne Redekop.
Councillor Nick Dubanow brought the issue up following a discussion he said members of the planning and development subcommittee had at a recent meeting.
“We feel the Region needs to be a partner on this matter,” he said.
“I have some concerns about Fort Erie taxpayers. If we were to unilaterally pick this up, it would be an affordable housing project which theoretically could have residents from the entire region benefiting from tax dollars in Fort Erie.”
CAO Chris McQueen said the issue came up at a meeting this week with other Niagara CAOs and regional staff. McQueen said he mentioned there was hope the Region could at least offer a matching funding program, but acknowledged there are complexities with 12 different municipalities and their various priorities and programs.
The fact budget meetings are happening for municipalities puts an added wrinkle on things, as is the fact Fort Erie’s draft affordable housing CIP is set to come before council in a few weeks.
An affordable housing CIP would offer incentives to the building community to provide housing that meets certain affordability criteria.
According to the town’s Let’s Talk Fort Erie website, there are three programs being proposed.
The first would lump sum grants provided per affordable housing unit or project.
The second would help cover the cost of studies that look at the feasibility of including affordable housing in new developments or using cost-saving building materials.
The final program would offer one-time grants to help with the cost of adding an additional apartment unit to an existing home or within an existing or new detached accessory structure.
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About The Author
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is a longtime Niagara community journalist who has covered a variety of beats, including business, agriculture, the wine industry and politics. When not writing, there's a good chance he can be found at a baseball diamond or curling rink.
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