11-19-2022, 10:51 AM
(11-19-2022, 10:29 AM)tomh009 Wrote: Am not really following the GTA stuff and the greenbelt, am most interested in the loosening of the SFH zoning--which is probably of less interest to big developers.
The key section in the draft act starts "The authority to pass a by-law under section 34 does not include the authority to pass a by-law that prohibits the use of" ... and then goes on to specifically describe three scenarios of three housing units on one lot (in one, two or three buildings).
It's a good thing, in my view, but given how slow the uptake has been for granny flat construction, I wonder how effective this will be. Allowing three units without size restrictions (presumable FSR would still apply to the total) is much more flexible, but those are still small. However, conceivable a developer could buy a number of adjoining lots and put a three-unit townhouse (or similar) on each one, to create a larger complex. It would have been better yet if the legislation had explicitly allowed low-rise multi-residential, though.
And the other thing, which is a legal aspect, is that it says that the municipalities cannot pass SFH by-laws. OK, but does that also invalidate the existing by-laws, or do those remain and this only affects new zoning by-laws? I don't know how to interpret this.
My impression was that you'd be free to build a duplex or triplex on the site of a SFH in an existing neighbourhood, but perhaps I'm mistook.