Newmarket resident Phil Parsons is keenly aware of the need for more affordable housing in the community, and would consider adding a bunkie to his backyard if zoning bylaws permitted it.
With Premier Doug Ford saying the province won't be introducing legislation that would automatically allow fourplex homes to be built, Parsons said he would like to see the Town of Newmarket permit them.
“I feel that Newmarket has an unspoken responsibility here,” he said. “Allowing an incremental increase in density by zoning changes could alleviate many of the issues behind (provincial housing) Bill 23.”
The Town of Newmarket is undergoing an official plan review, which could bring about many zoning changes. As the province pushes back on the idea of four units as a right, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said navigating additional units on properties will be part of changes in the official plan.
Provincial legislation currently allows landowners to have three units on a property as a right. But the province recently opted to step back on the idea of expanding it further to allow fourplexes as a right, despite the recommendation by the government housing task force.
“I can assure you 1,000 per cent, you go in the middle of communities and start putting up four-storeys, six-storey, eight-storey buildings and right deep into the communities, there's going to be … a lot of shouting and screaming, that's a massive mistake,” Ford said.
Taylor said he is open to allowing fourplexes, and that the town has a history of being a leader in additional units, as it permitted basement units as a right more than 25 years ago.
With the town undergoing an official plan review, Taylor said fourplexes will be part of that examination.
“They’re one of the tools we can use to build more units,” Taylor said. “It is not a panacea. We certainly need to be focused on all kinds of other options, too, like purpose-built rental.”
Taylor said that as with all decisions the town makes, it will come with public consultation.
Regardless of fourplexes, new units are still cropping up in Newmarket. The committee of adjustment recently looked at a separate secondary suite for a home at Behman Drive, which garnered some concern from residents on social media.
“This is part of Newmarket’s future,” Taylor said in response. “Some second and even third units on some larger properties can help add housing options and provide affordable options, especially for family members.”
Still, he said the town would look to regulating additional units in the official plan review, addressing issues like lot size and setbacks.
Meanwhile, Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas has pushed for fourplexes as a right within Aurora and suggested it is a good way to help get federal funding for housing development. He made a resolution that would bring the change and said he would use strong mayor powers if necessary to bring it into effect.
“This is just moving from three to four,” Mrakas said. “To say that a fourplex couldn’t be considered affordable housing, I find that statement ludicrous, to be quite frank.”
However, Taylor said one issue that will be difficult to address with fourplexes is parking. He noted that most homes were not built with additional units in mind, which can make parking more difficult.
“City parking lots, perhaps, (or) perhaps on-street parking permits,” Taylor suggested. “There’s a lot we have to figure out.”
The town is preparing a parking study to examine parking within the community.
“Things are moving very quickly in the housing world. We’re all trying to react very quickly, move very quickly to address the housing affordability crisis," Taylor said.
-With files from Brock Weir
