One municipal organization is welcoming new provincial regulations aimed at boosting affordable housing.
Provincial officials introduced what is known as a proposed inclusionary zoning regulation last week.
It would allow local governments to develop bylaws requiring developers to set aside a certain percentage of new multi-unit developments as affordable housing.
Dan Murphy, executive director of the Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick, said he sees this as a positive addition.
“It’s another tool that municipalities can use as they try to create the conditions for affordable housing in their communities,” Murphy said in an interview.
The land-use planning tool had been promised as part of the local governance reform process.
With municipalities struggling to ensure they have enough affordable housing, Murphy sees this regulation as a plus.
“It allows councils to make decisions that work for the local context, which is always best because different communities have different challenges when it comes to housing,” he said.
“Some rural communities have some real workforce issues, some it’s affordable, some it’s seniors, some it’s work around the homelessness file.”
Murphy said while larger communities may have a bit more capacity to consider developing bylaws right away, he expects local governments of all sizes will take note of this new regulation.
According to the province, housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of the householder’s income.
A 28-day comment period on the regulation is now underway.
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