June 14, 2024 - Housing Accelerator Fund - Zoning By-Law Changes After Public Hearing

Though there were no objections raised at the public hearing for the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) zoning bylaw amendments (meeting minutes here), there have been some concerns raised through the process regarding feasibility of three and four-plexes in areas with no lanes and the reduction in site/lot coverage. Administration reviewed this feedback and is proposing the following changes to the bylaw:

• Though development of three- or four-plexes on interior sites with no rear or side lanes is possible, designing such developments to be compatible with an existing neighbourhood may be more challenging, as the lack of a lane means parking access can only be off a front street. Administration is therefore recommending amending the by-law to add that three-plexes and four-plexes on interior sites with no lane access are conditional uses.
•  Administration is also proposing to increase the maximum lot coverage from the proposed 40% to 50%. This is still lower than the current rule of 60%, and the intent of decreasing maximum lot coverage is to mitigate increased drainage runoff from especially infill sites as an offset to allowing more infill development in the City. However, Administration recognizes after further review that the original decrease to 40% is a steep change. Administration still intends to lower the lot coverage percentage in the future after the development industry has had some time to adapt to the change.

 
The next steps in the process is for council, at the June 17^th council meeting, to give 2^nd and 3^rd reading to the bylaw. More information can be found in council’s agenda package: Agenda_-_June_17_2024.pdf (brandon.ca)
 
You may also be interested in the Gentle Density Housing Bylaw Guide released as a resource/guide for local municipalities to permit gentle density (re-imagining single-dwelling zoned neighbourhoods through small scale infill development).