MINTO – Provisions and definitions for “stacked townhomes” are among the key elements of a proposed housekeeping amendment to the Town of Minto zoning bylaw.
A public meeting was held on the amendment at the May 17 town council meeting.
A staff report from Minto planning technician Ashley Sawyer notes the County of Wellington has pointed out the town currently does not have provisions or definitions in place regarding stacked townhomes. The report also notes the provisions in place for street and cluster townhomes do not precisely capture/cover stacked townhomes.
“Town staff recognize that a variety of housing types is essential to residents of the town and note that stacked townhomes offer an opportunity for increased density in high-density residential areas (R3). Stacked townhomes can provide an opportunity for more affordable housing option for current and future residents of the town,” the report states.
In her report, Sawyer explains the height requirement for a stacked townhome will be the same as that of cluster townhome, which is 10.5 metres (34.5 feet).
“This change will permit stacked townhouses as of right within the R3 zone. This change will eliminate the need for a site specific zone amendment and stacked townhouses will provide an additional housing type to the residents of Minto,” states a report from Wellington County senior planner Jessica Rahim.
“The maximum number of units in a row has been kept to six, with the opportunity to have a stacked unit above, bringing the maximum total number of units to 12 in one grouping. From a streetscape perspective this change would provide little to no impact as the proposed change would only alter the structural composition of the townhouse,” Rahim explains.
Rahim pointed out stacked townhouse units have become “a little bit of a trend” with some developers.
“So we’re just trying to get ahead of the game by including the new definition. So that we don’t have to do is site specific zoning amendment if that is a proposal for a developer,” she stated.
Other housekeeping updates included in the amendment include some general topographical and mapping corrections and removal or amendment of site specific exemptions for expired garden suites.
“I think a lot of it is just clarifying things that are already permitted, or things that we’re using the definition as, for instance the four-plex is technically a cluster town(house), but (the zoning bylaw) doesn’t specify that, so I think it’ll make it easier for everyone to follow, including staff,” said Sawyer.
Deputy Mayor Dave Turton noted the inclusion of a stacked townhouse definition in the town’s zoning bylaw represents a shift from when the bylaw was last updated.
“It makes you wonder … where are we headed? When you talk about stacked townhouses and we can only go up to two storeys, if you could predict the future three years from now, what’s next, what’s coming?” he asked.
“If you go down to the bigger cities, you will see a lot of these everywhere already,” said Rahim. “And I think that’s why some of the developers are starting to move a bit north and that they’re proposing that so we’re just trying to get ahead of the trend here too and have a definition so that we can capture it.”
Rahim pointed out the stacked townhouse definition falls under the provisions for cluster townhouses, which are already a permitted use within the bylaw.
“It will allow for additional units, but we’re hoping that the streetscape will look the same, because we still have the same height, and all of that,” she said.
“We need some density in order to try to get the prices down, because … the land is the land, right? lf you can put more density on it … I liked the approach we’re doing because we’re getting ahead of the game. So when people come in with a subdivision agreement … IT gives them an opportunity to have one area may be a little more dense, and another area,” observed Mayor George Bridge.
Rahim explained that planning staff will consider comments from council and prepare a final report and bylaw for council’s consideration.
