May 7th, 2024

At their Public Hearing on April 29th, Council adopted the Family Friendly Units Policy: 

• That a minimum of 15% of the total project units be at least two-bedroom, unless otherwise stated. 
• That a minimum of 10% of the total project units be at least three-bedroom, unless otherwise stated. 
• That the overall average project unit size be no less than 725 square feet. 
• Any application submitted prior to the final adoption of this policy shall be granted an 18-month grace period from the date of final adoption of this policy, in order to receive fourth and final reading by Council of the Zoning Amendment Bylaw.  

The initial average unit size proposed was 750 square feet, then amended by Mayor Woodward to 699.65 square feet. At the Public Hearing, Mayor Woodward brought forward another amendment to re-increase the average unit size requirement to 725 square feet. 

Additional information can be found in the full staff report. 

April 9th, 2024

At the Public Hearing on March 25th, Council gave third and final reading to the policy requiring family-friendly units as part of new development. This policy will apply Township-wide, and become effective on the date of adoption, applying to all new apartment applications of ten units or greater. Any in-stream rezoning applications will be granted a one-year grace period to receive fourth and final reading before the policy will apply. 

In requiring family-friendly units as part of new development, staff propose the following: 

• Require a minimum of 10% of apartment units in buildings that are six storeys or less to have at least three bedrooms; 
• Require a minimum of 5% of apartment units in buildings that are seven (7) storeys or more to have at least three-bedrooms; and 
• Require an overall average project unit size of 750 square feet. 

At the Public Hearing, Council passed the following amendments: 

• Removing the building height distinction – The amendment now requires a 10% minimum for all building heights; 
• A requirement for 15% of the units to have two bedrooms and 10% to have three bedrooms; 
• Decreasing the average project unit size requirement to 700 square feet; and 
• An extension of the grace period beyond one year for in-stream rezoning applications. 

UDI has written to Mayor and Council outlining support for increasing the stock of three-bedroom apartment units in the Township but encouraging the removal of the requirement to meet an overall average project unit size, as this will likely result in developers building homes that are too large for families to afford or attain.  

The policy, as amended, will return to another Public Hearing on April 29th to be considered. UDI plans to engage further on the policy before the Public Hearing date. 

More information can be found in the full report by Township staff.