TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT MEMORANDUM
MEETING DATE: February 10, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-005
TO: Committee of the Whole
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: Affordable Housing - Council Discussion & Determination of Next Steps
INFORMATION:
Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Committee of the Whole (the Committee) with background information for consideration to help inform their decision about whether to direct staff to draft a revised Affordable Housing Impact Assessment.
Background
At the September 23, 2024, Special Committee of the Whole meeting, the Committee reviewed new initiative proposals including one related to affordable housing (Appendix "A"). At that meeting, the Committee recommended that Council direct staff to report back with an impact assessment on the Affordable Housing Plan proposal.
The impact assessment (Appendix "B") was presented to the Committee at their December 9, 2024, meeting. The Committee recommended to Council that,
staff be directed to prepare a revised Initiative Impact Assessment on Affordable Housing with an expedited schedule for Council's consideration, advising on what the implications are for reducing the scope, schedule, and cost of the project.
At the subsequent Council meeting on December 16, 2024, Council commented that,
Recommendation language reflects intent to direct staff to proceed; determining next steps will necessitate further discussion, once staff have completed initial work and provided options available for advancing affordable housing in the Township
Prior to proceeding with the drafting of a revised Affordable Housing Impact Assessment, staff are providing the Committee with some background information related to affordable housing for its consideration.
Overview
The provision of affordable housing is a wicked problem1. A number of solutions have been proposed, however, the one that often comes up is to have the federal and provincial governme...
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