1. Proposed Changes:…

1. Proposed Changes: Exemptions from DCs for Residential Intensification (additional units)
Potential City Impacts:
- The potential financial impacts would be nominal, given the changes made to the Regulations in 2020 which exempt additional dwelling units that are within or ancillary to a primary unit.
Comments to the Province:
- City staff are generally supportive of financial relief to units supporting gentle densification.

2. Proposed Changes: Increased Gentle Intensification (3 units on a lot)
Potential City Impacts:
- The City’s Official Plan (as well as Official Plan Review draft policies) and Zoning by-laws will have to be revised to address this.
- This proposed change is in alignment with preliminary direction in Mississauga’s Increasing Housing Choices in Neighbouroods Study (IHCN) and the Official Plan Review (OPR).
- Currently, the City’s Zoning By-law requires 1.25 spaces per unit in a duplex or triplex. This will need to be revised. As per design work from the consultants on the IHCN project, staff are considering a maximum of 0.66 spaces/unit in a triplex (this would permit a two-car driveway and triplex building that fits within the existing footprint of a single-detached house and driveway).
- As part of Mississauga’s recently approved Parking Regulations Study, an extra parking space is not required for a second unit.
- Consistent with this proposed change, the recently approved Parkland Conveyance By-law includes an exemption for up to two additional residential units (ARUs). The City’s By-law provides a clear definition for ARUs.
- There is no language on timing requirements. This would mean the current 3 year zoning conformity requirement would apply once the OP is revised to conform to these new requirements, but it is unclear.
Comments to the Province:
- Staff are seeking clarification on implementation, including the application of zoning standards (e.g. can zoning provisions have the effect of limiting the zones/sites where 3 units on a lot are feasible?) and parking requirements.
- Seeking clarification on time requirements for implementation.

3. Proposed Changes: Removing Barriers to Infill Housing
Potential City Impacts:
- City staff would suggest that the Province carefully consider the many barriers to residential infill in existing neighbourhoods. Specifically, construction costs for even modest residential infill units are expensive and mortgages are difficult to secure.
- From the City’s work, it is estimated that a one bedroom/ one storey garden suite is $250K, a two storey / two bedroom suite is $425K and a garage conversion to a one bedroom unit is in the order of $92K. A loan program, or way of making capital available to homeowners, could go a long way to more of these opportunities being realized.
Comments to the Province:
- The Province should consider the many barriers to residential infill in existing neighbourhoods. The Province could consider some type of incentive program to help capitalize infill projects (e.g. grants or loans) in existing neighbourhoods.
- The Province could update the Ontario Building Code to ensure singles and towns are built in a way that would support retrofitting for second units.