The federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund which requests zoning bylaw changes led to many people speaking out during City Council meetings this year, but the last of the changes happened at last week’s Council meeting, so the $41.3 million for affordable housing has been approved. The last change was amending the zoning bylaw to remove minimum off-street parking requirements for new developments. Previously a builder or owner would be allowed a certain amount of parking, based on the size of the building. Now it will be up to that builder or owner to decide how much parking is needed. Some of the other changes include allowing for greater building height near popular transit routes and more density near post-secondary institutions.

The changes encourage more medium-density and multi-family homes such as townhouses and multiplexes in residential areas, to be developed gradually over time.
Mayor Charlie Clark says the City is rapidly growing, but facing serious issues getting new housing built, and that’s why it’s so crucial.

Canada’s Minister of Northern Affairs, and Minister Responsible for Prairies Can and CanNor, Dan Vandal was in Saskatoon for funding announcements last week on behalf of the federal government. He noted that some cities had some push back on the zoning change stipulations. Vandal says, “There is different rates of adoption of the changes that need to be made but most cities are on board with the Housing Accelerator Fund knowing full well that is the way to solutions that are needed for our country.” He explains that the federal government is putting Housing Accelerator dollars on the table in exchange for municipalities modernizing their bylaws, which will affect affordability, will make houses more affordable and solve a crisis that our country is going through.