Ongoing Work - January 2025

Following key changes to the Zoning Bylaw and Official Community Plan related to the Housing Accelerator Fund last year, the City is actively exploring new opportunities to further support the development of middle housing in central neighbourhoods. Middle housing refers to housing forms that bridge the gap between single-family homes and high-rise buildings. They are typically ground-oriented, mid-rise structures without elevator cores, such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhouses.

To further this goal, the City has partnered with mddl (pronounced “middle”), a team of experts with over a decade of experience in successfully delivering middle housing across Canada. mddl will assist in evaluating current policies and standards, engaging with industry stakeholders, and building capacity within the local development community to effectively deliver middle housing solutions. This collaborative effort will continue through Q1 2025, providing practical solutions to address housing needs in central neighbourhoods while fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and diverse urban environment.

In addition to working with mddl, the City is also refining the Zoning Bylaw to improve clarity and make it a user-friendly document and reviewing Complete Neighbourhood policies to ensure best practices are incorporated into neighbourhood design.

Stay tuned for more updates on these initiatives that are shaping the future of housing in our city.