As a resident of the Niagara…

As a resident of the Niagara region, living in rural Niagara-on-the-Lake, I am happy to see that the province is proposing updated guidance to encourage additional dwellings on rural land, all while avoiding the creation of additional lots.

I am referencing the following from the proposed provincial policy: Permit more housing on farms to support farmers, farm families and farm workers without creating new lots, through enhanced policy and criteria supporting additional residential units (updated)

The topic of ADU's has come up in conversation with neighbors and what I'm hearing is resounding agreement and a similar desire to have the flexibility of an ADU for aging parents or adult children. I think all levels of government need to work together to help deal with the issues of housing supply, affordability and our aging population.
 
Currently Niagara-on-the-Lake as a municipality allows for ADU's, but only within urban boundaries. Detached ADU's are not permitted in areas zoned as rural, which are however allowed in the neighboring municipality of Niagara Falls (https://niagarafalls.ca/city-hall/planning/additional-dwelling-units.as…).

My wife and I are raising a young family in a rural neighborhood we love. We're also trying to configure our property in a way that allows our family to utilize and enjoy it for generations to come, while still maintaining and staying true to the community's farming roots. We're not looking to rent the ADU (short or long term), or sever the property, but have aging parents close in proximately to spend time with grandchildren and close by as they continue to age, all while maintaining their own independence. On roughly 4 acres, I feel we have ample space which would lend itself perfectly for this type of situation with no hindrance to lot coverage.

I am pleased to see the province looking at including this in their policy statement as it helps with our collective housing shortage, keeps families together, and creates an environment for multi-generational living in neighborhoods and zones which have an abundance of space.