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Ontario to streamline housing development process
9/29/2017 | Posted in Ontario Real Estate by Paul DeAdder | Back to Main Blog Page
In an announcement earlier this week, the government of Ontario stated that it has established a new team tasked with removing the multiple barriers to housing construction and streamlining the entire property development process.
“Over the coming months, the Housing Delivery Group will work with individual developers, municipalities and other organizations to reduce barriers for specific housing projects that meet the needs of local communities,” the province said.
“The team will be led by Provincial Land and Development Facilitator Paula Dill. An experienced urban planner, she has been able to successfully resolve a range of complex, multi-jurisdictional issues.”
The launch of the Housing Delivery Group is part of the Fair Housing Plan introduced earlier this year, the government added.
“Reducing barriers to residential developments will help create vibrant neighbourhoods, giving Ontario families access to new places to live. By providing the foundation for communities across the province, we will build a stronger, fairer Ontario,” according to Peter Milczyn, Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
The Ontario Real Estate Association hailed the formation of the task force, saying that the latter will prove helpful in addressing the province’s long-running supply and affordability issues.
“Over the past year, Ontario Realtors have been sounding the alarm on the lack of housing supply in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It is imperative that governments work collaboratively with municipalities and developers in reducing the barriers that have impeded necessary growth in the housing market,” OREA CEO Tim Hudak wrote in a statement.
“Despite the recent downturn in prices, there is still more work to be done, such as speeding up approval processes, encourage building more ‘missing middle’ type homes and make sure infrastructure funding is targeted towards water, sewer, roads and transit to land already designated for development.”
