Photo by B. Shakyaver
South Huron’s committee of the whole yesterday evening (November 15) focused on several sticking points surrounding suggested changes to zoning and housing policy.
Senior Planner for the County of Huron Craig Metzger presented to South Huron Council on November 6, his proposed changes to the housing policy – which were extensive, prompting council to move the discussion to committee of the whole for further clarification.
Councilor Ted Oke recognized that while changes to the parking requirements for denser housing seems like semantics, it had real impacts on housing in South Huron.
Mike Rolph, Director of Planning and Building said that there was money set aside in the 2024 budget for a parking study, which will help bring data to the table in time for the official plan review next year.
Councilor Marissa Vaughan prompted conversation around environmental limitations and soil testing requirements – with Planner Denise van Amersfoort clarifying that geological limitations and vulnerable aquifers had been identified by the county, and that protecting them was a high priority.
Developments coming to South Huron were another point of contention, with the process of attracting denser and more variable types of housing called into question. Councilors asked Metzger what the municipality could do to attract more variety of housing types (as opposed to just single family, detached dwellings), anticipating the future needs of the market. He said that some things that South Huron was already doing were having a positive impact.
Overall, councilors recognized that there was a large shift in the plan, which appeared to be much more substantial than general “housekeeping” as was initially proposed. However, the fast changing needs of the community, as well as tectonic shifts in provincial housing policy necessitated large changes to ensure denser housing for the future of South Huron, as outlined by Councilor Aaron Neeb.
Changes to the housing plan will be made based on the reccomendations of councilors, and brought back to council at a later date.
Written by: B. Shakyaver