2 days ago
Winnipeg council approves sweeping housing zoning reforms
Winnipeg city council approved a package of sweeping housing zoning reforms overnight after days of debate.
Council members proposed dozens of amendments in a hearing that went late into the night Thursday, but the reforms council approved did not change substantially from what city staff had recommended.
Property owners can now build up to four units on all housing lots in the city, and buildings up to four storeys can be constructed within 800 metres of frequent transit, without the need for a public hearing, as long as they meet certain design standards.
Critics of the changes say they take away the right of people to have a say on developments in their neighbourhoods.
But Mayor Scott Gillingham said the city needed to make these changes to qualify for $450 million in federal housing funding from a number of different programs, including the housing accelerator fund.
The mayor and other supporters say the new rules will lead to more homes being built faster, which will lower the cost of housing.
In a news release, Gillingham said the changes will allow for a greater variety of housing in more neighbourhoods, making it easier for young workers, families and older adults to find a place to live.
The city began the process of making these reforms in November 2023, when it agreed to implement zoning changes in exchange for receiving $122.4 million from the federal housing accelerator fund, which is intended to speed up housing construction.
Other programs, like the Canada housing infrastructure fund and the Canada public transit fund, also made the money conditional on municipal governments making it easier to build housing.
