From the Town of Halton…

From the Town of Halton Hills Planning staff: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Proposed Regulatory Changes under the Planning Act Relating to the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024 (Bill 185): Removing Barriers for Additional Residential Units. Below please find the Town of Halton Hills’ staff comments:

1. Are there specific zoning by-law barriers standards or requirements that frustrate the development of ARUs (e.g., maximum building height, minimum lot size, side and rear lot setbacks, lot coverage, maximum number of bedrooms permitted per lot, and angular plane requirements, etc.)?
• Proposed changes regarding lot coverage within established residential neighbourhoods could limit a municipality's ability to preserve soft landscaping on residential lots and may generate unanticipated drainage/stormwater management issues. Standards established at the Provincial level remove the municipality’s ability to properly evaluate the impacts of emerging built forms, like ARUs, on the surrounding neighbourhood and environment.

2. Are there any other changes that would help support development of ARUs?
• It is recommended that in lieu of proceeding by way of an Ontario Regulation, the Ministry develop ARU Implementation Guidelines. These Guidelines could then be utilized by local municipalities in establishing appropriate regulatory standards for inclusion within Comprehensive Zoning By-laws that have regard for the local context.