Mayor-elect O’Reilly pleased to hear premier-designate Doerkson tease removal of housing targets

This year’s target update was set to come before council later this month – and probably still will, with the new Tory government unlikely to remove the legislation prior to the report from staff.

“We were given targets that really had nothing to do with council,” said mayor-elect Mike O’Reilly. “And it wasn’t how many permits we approved or units we approved, it was how many units got occupancy. That really goes back to the economy and where things are at in the interest cycle and how the city is doing as a whole. But for council to be held to targets we have no control over was extremely difficult.”

The Lorne Doerkson-led government is also reportedly taking aim at Bill 44, which in part allows single-family lots to have fourplexes built without council or staff intervention, and without public hearings.

“We don’t want to go back to the days of public hearings required for everything, (but) maybe some of the projects that are more controversial,” suggested O’Reilly. “But we don’t want to slow down the process but at the same time, it’s finding that balance and happy medium between slowing the process down and having the community heard.”

Regardless of the target staying or going, building more units will remain a focus for the new mayor, with advocacy for provincial funding.

“The infrastructure funding did not match the housing targets that we had nor does it meet the needs that we have now,” added O’Reilly. “I’m really hoping with the new provincial government, there will be more opportunity for funding specifically around [development cost charge] projects and servicing the new buildings we have, but also the existing ones and replacement projects we have on the books.”

by Michael Reeve

Mayor-elect O’Reilly pleased to hear premier-designate Doerkson tease removal of housing targets

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