Bruce County officials are working to increase the supply and mix of homes in the region.
Published highlights from the latest council meeting reported The Plan the Bruce: Homes Project has identified thirteen policy directions for consideration. One direction relates to policies that permit additional residential units in single-detached, semi-detached, and rowhouse dwellings, and in an ancillary building to these dwelling types.
The Planning Act requires that Official Plans provide policies that permit additional residential units in these building types, subject to servicing considerations. Staff partnered with a team of students from the University of Guelph School of Rural Planning and Development to advance research and policy directions to reduce barriers to additional residential units in Bruce County.
The Planning and Development Committee heard from the students’ delegation which highlighted their research findings.
Meantime, reports from council indicated the Planning and Development Committee is authorized to initiate an Amendment to the County Official Plan to update the policies on Additional Residential Units. The current County Official Plan has policies for Secondary Suites which can be revised and updated to expand the opportunities for additional residential units. Recommended policy changes include redefining Secondary Suites as ‘Additional Residential Units’, broadening permission for additional residential units and garden suites to any designation where residential uses are permitted as a primary use, and more. A Public Meeting is expected to be scheduled on this amendment at the appropriate time.