Kitchener mayor, councillors to discuss increased housing density

In the mayor of Kitchener’s quest for more housing, if a property is big enough for one home, it’s big enough for four.

Berry Vrbanovic will make a motion at the city’s Monday evening council meeting to allow any lot big enough for a stand-alone house, semi-detached house, or street townhouse dwelling units, to be allowed to hold four residential units.

The city already allows three units on such properties.

In his motion, Vrbanovic cites a housing study that says Kitchener’s population grew almost 10% between 2016 and 2021.

And it’s expected to grow another 50 per cent from current levels by the year 2051.

Vrbanovic points out, Kitchener Council made a commitment in March to the Ontario government’s Housing Pledge, that mandates a housing target for Kitchener of 35,000 units by 2031.

And the city came out with its own Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Study in April this year that recommends increasing density city-wide.

The mayor also cites how the Government of Canada’s Housing Accelerator Fund grant program is a chance for the city to refine its housing policies, procedures and processes.

If the motion passes as written, staff will report back on the density issue in the first quarter of next year.

Council meets at 7 p.m.