As presented by Councillor Fortin:
WHEREAS an obtainable housing shortage and chronically low vacancy rates have resulted in a housing affordability and availability crisis;
AND WHEREAS the Housing Supply Strategy presented to Council on January 16, 2024 identified 4,326 potential residential units in draft approved subdivisions and identified development charge exemptions and reductions as an incentive option;
AND WHEREAS a temporary and targeted moratorium on development charges provides an incentive to speed up the pace of construction;
AND WHEREAS access to the recently announced $6 Billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund requires a commitment to key actions that increase housing supply on “missing middle” homes, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small multi-unit apartments;
AND WHEREAS access to additional Federal funding, such as the forthcoming public transit fund, also requires that municipalities take action that will directly unlock housing supply;
AND WHEREAS by accelerating development and exceeding its building targets the City remains eligible for millions of dollars through the Ontario Building Faster Fund;
AND WHEREAS a housing unit built within the time frame of the moratorium that would not otherwise have been built, generates assessment growth;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Greater Sudbury directs the update to the Development Charges by-law 2019-100 include a 3 year development charge fee moratorium on so-called “missing middle” homes, including duplexes, triplexes, row houses, townhouses, and small multi-unit apartments of 30 units or less.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that development charge rates on single family dwellings be held at their current rate for the duration of the 3 year moratorium.