Enabling More Housing in the City of Burlington
Burlington, Ont.—Nov. 29, 2024— The City of Burlington is moving quickly to address housing challenges. The Council-approved Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan and implementation budget will expand housing opportunities for residents by cutting red tape, updating zoning, offering important public engagement opportunities, and providing incentives for achieving priority housing targets.
As Burlington continues to grow, these initiatives include working with community partners, landowners and developers to enable the development of complete, low-carbon, and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse. The City’s Housing Strategy identifies actions to expand the range and mix of housing in the city. Staff are also exploring tools that will streamline the processes for delivering more housing options for residents.
Four Units as-of-right
At the City’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, staff will present the Draft Official Plan Amendment and Zoning ByLaw Amendment report on four units as-of-right and other actions in the Housing Strategy. Those interested are encouraged to attend the Statutory Public Meeting in person at City Hall or online.
The Official Plan Amendment to Increase Housing Options Project will explore opportunities to increase the diversity of housing options in Burlington neighbourhoods. The City is committed to its vision for housing to meet the needs of all residents at all stages of life and at all income levels.
NEW Incentives for Additional Residential Units (ARUs)
For homeowners and Not-for-Profits - The City will open its HAF incentive program on Dec. 1, 2024. These incentives are available until Dec. 31, 2026, based on availability of funding.
- Residential homeowners and not-for-profits may be eligible for municipal fee waivers (zoning clearance and building permits) associated with new ARUs.
- Not-for-profits may be eligible for municipal fee waivers associated with new, eligible, affordable rental housing projects if they receive their building permit by Dec. 31, 2026.
Join the discussion - Housing-Focused Community Improvement Plan Public Open Houses
As part of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and City’s Housing Strategy approved actions, Burlington is working on a housing-focused Community Improvement Plan (CIP). Staff are working with a consultant to deliver the CIP for early 2025.
Property owners and residents are invited to join the discussion on Burlington’s proposed Community Improvement Plan. The City welcomes public feedback as it looks at financial and non-financial incentives such as grants or tax incentives to enable new housing units.
- In-person Public Open House
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 to 9 p.m., Mountainside Community Centre Community, Room 2 - Virtual Public Open House
Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 to 9 p.m. on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86389784390 - In-person Public Open House
Monday, Dec. 9, 7 to 9 p.m., Appleby Ice Centre, Community Room 1
The City’s goal is to support property owners and housing providers so they can build new rental, affordable and missing middle housing.
The CIP supports three initiatives in the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan:
- Implementing Major Transit Station Areas and Community Planning Permit System.
- Enable the creation of additional residential units and consider opportunities to increase as of right permissions. Burlington is proposing four units as of right and a no parking minimum pilot within a specific geographic area.
- Find opportunities to offer incentives, like fee waivers and tax rebates, for the creation of rental and non-market housing.
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool that allows municipalities like Burlington to provide grants and loans and other incentives to private landowners to help the City meet its housing goals. For example, the incentives can help to cover development costs for new affordable housing units.
The CIP Study will identify incentives to help create new rental housing and more affordable housing options. It will identify effective approaches, programs and tools and align with the City’s Housing Strategy, HAF Action Plan initiatives and the Burlington Official Plan, 2020. The study will look at best practices, market trends and emerging updates from the Province.
Faster Approvals to Enable Homes Getting Built
Work is continuing around Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and the development of a new tool, the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS). This will allow for quicker approvals on high-density developments without the need for re-zoning.
Housing Connections Centre
Another key initiative to support housing is a proposed virtual Housing Connections Centre. This centre will provide residents and developers resources like:
- standard unit designs - ARU library of pre-approved designs to help streamline building permits, garage conversions resource kit, CMHC design catalogues,
- ways to connect with partners,
- access to incentives, and
- information about
- the benefits of diverse neighbourhoods and
- how creating new housing can provide options for all Burlington residents.
Work is being done to bring this resource online in the new year. For more information, visit burlington.ca/HAF.
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Quick Facts
- On Jan. 15, 2024, the Government of Canada and the City of Burlington announced a $21 million agreement to encourage more affordable homes for Burlington, built faster. HAF is an application-based program that provides funding directly to municipalities across the country to incentivize and support initiatives that will accelerate the supply of housing. Burlington’s Housing Strategy was approved by Council in June 2022. This strategy creates a road map and acts as a guiding document for housing needs in the City of Burlington. It will help the City to work towards meeting the housing needs of the community and move us closer to reaching our Vision for housing in Burlington.
- In October 2023, Burlington City Council unanimously approved a motion to declare its intention to allow four residential units per lot. The motion builds on the City’s recent update to the Additional Residential Unit policies of the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw to permit up to three residential units per urban residential lot which was approved by Council in September 2023. The motion also supported the City’s application to the Housing Accelerator Fund.
- On Nov. 19, 2024, Burlington City Council approved the Housing Accelerator fund report and HAF Implementation Budget. This included the approval for municipal fee waivers for new eligible ARUs and new non-profit housing projects effective Dec. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2026, based on available funding.
- Missing Middle Housing are the different types of multi-unit housing that fill the gap between low-rise, single-family homes and large apartment buildings. These may include a garden suite, garage or basement apartment, duplexes, fourplexes and low-rise apartments of four storeys or less. Additional Residential Units also fit into this category. These buildings are usually similar in size to detached homes so they can fit into residential neighborhoods. The goal is to increase housing options in neighbourhoods, create communities that are walkable with local services and have public transportation options. Missing Middle housing building designs may offer more affordable options to help fill the gap between detached homes and high-rises.
Quotes
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“This work is helping homeowners and builders create more homes, particularly affordable ones, in Burlington. We're making progress thanks to strong partnerships with all levels of government and the development industry. Together, we're shaping a future Burlington— a vibrant community where everyone has access to a home they can afford.
To support Burlington's Housing Strategy and make the most of our HAF, staff are streamlining the planning and building permit process, implementing a strategy for complete communities around our GO stations, updating the Zoning Bylaw, and exploring incentives for Missing Middle Housing, like townhouses, through the Community Improvement Plan.
Staff have also started engaging with the community to gather feedback on building options that fill the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. I encourage everyone to learn more about our Community Improvement Plan and share your thoughts on how we can make it easier to add an additional unit to your property.”
Burlington Deputy Mayor of Housing, Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte
“Owning a home is not affordable for many Burlington residents. Only households with higher incomes can afford a home in Burlington unless they have a down payment greater than five per cent or spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs. The City needs a wider range of housing options, including rentals. The 2021 Housing Needs and Opportunities Study showed that at least 200 rental units need to be added to Burlington each year.
As we go through these initiatives, it’s important to remember that some initiatives will have quick results while others will support improvements to the broader housing system. Make sure you join the conversation that will inform this work for the future of housing in Burlington.
The HAF is helping us work toward our vision for housing: “Everyone is welcome in Burlington”. This program is improving our processes that are needed to increase housing supply and affordability in the short and long term.”
Links and Resources
Burlington’s Housing Strategy
Staff Report PL-56-24: Community Improvement Plan Study Draft Terms of Reference
Pre-Building Approval Application
Statutory Public Meeting – Dec. 3, 2024.
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Media contact:
City of Burlington Communications
communications@burlington.ca