Windsor council pledges to 'aspirational' goal of getting 13,000 homes built over next 8 years
The City of Windsor is taking a bold step to help facilitate the construction of 13,000 new homes by 2031.
The number is being called an ‘aspirational target’ — the city’s share of the province’s ultimate goal of building 1.5 million homes during that same time.
Council members voted 9 to 2 Monday to make a pledge to the province that it will meet the province’s targets in the “More Homes for Everyone” and “More Homes Built Faster” Acts.
“I think what you're seeing from the province is a big push to try and get more homes built,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “And they're saying to all municipalities make the pledge to play your part and change your process to be able to do that.”
The city processed an average of 309 housing permits each year from 2010 through 2018.
From 2019 to 2022, that number jumped to an average of 603.
The new targets will require Windsor to process more than 1,600 housing units each year until 2031.
“It's a target that is double what we're doing now, in terms of new dwelling units within the city,” said the city’s chief building official, John Revell. “And it's going to be a challenge to achieve, not necessarily because of the government, but because of industry as well.”
Revell said it’s no secret developers are dealing with a skilled labour shortage and materials supply issues.
“Within the construction industry there are other limitations, largely centred around labour and materials. We’re only half the equation here in terms of permitting 1,300 per year is pretty optimistic in terms of what the industry can handle right now,” said Revell.
For these reasons and others, some around the council table believe the target is too lofty.
“They're very ambitious. In fact, I'm very skeptical as to whether we can attain them,” said Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie.
He’s concerned about the financial risk the new legislation poses to the city and agreeing to a target that he doesn’t believe is attainable.
“I think we should hold out, ask the province to come to the table with some concrete measures that can help us to achieve those goals, and then I'd be interested in revisiting making the pledge,” said McKenzie.
It’s a fear shared by Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani, who said he makes decisions based on integrity and doesn’t want to make a promise he can’t keep.
“I think we walk on a slippery slope when we say we’re going to do something and we know we can’t do it,” Marignani said.
At the same time, council gave administration the go-ahead to consider hiring six full-time equivalent positions in the planning department, a decision that will be revisited and likely approved at budget time.
That decision comes as planning applications grow in number, along with new provincial requirements to process those applications on a shorter timeline or risk financial penalties.
“If we don't meet the statutory timelines, that means we have to give a refund of building permit fees back to develop to the developer, which could cause significant damage to city resources,” said Dilkens.
The impact of those penalties and looming changes to the development charge structure is unknown, but McKenzie believes it could impact the city’s bottom line by millions to tens of million of dollars.
“Planning is the tip of the spear and they need to make lots of decisions at the front end,” said chief administrative officer Onorio Colucci. “It will also impact other areas, like the development section will be highly impacted by this.”
Mayor Dilkens believes the province will “make the city whole” for any loss in development fees and also points out that an increase in housing units also translates to more property taxes for city coffers.
“We want to make sure from a city perspective that we are firing on all cylinders to be able to address the demand that's out there,” said Dilkens.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.