Housing
Continuing work with Muskoka Community Land Trust and building on the affordable housing action plan to create housing liquidity at all levels.
Affordable housing is a crisis affecting working families, young professionals, and seniors across Muskoka. To fix this, we need to create housing liquidity at all levels, allowing people to move up the property ladder and free up starter units.
The Baseball Analogy: “Everyone wants the big, flashy home run—like a 100-unit affordable housing build overnight. But baseball games are won with fundamentals: singles, doubles, and base steals. At the municipal level, those singles and doubles are getting rid of the hurdles that delay housing.”
Key Housing Initiatives:
- Community Land Trust Collaboration: Active partnership with the Muskoka Community Land Trust to secure land assets and promote long-term attainable housing.
- Rural Severances: Pushed motions to allow smaller severances in rural areas (historical 200ft lots) so families can sell small parcels to help children stay in town.
- Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Standardized drawing packages and simplified approvals for garden suites and accessory units.
- Supporting Local Trades: Over 10% of employment in Muskoka is in the trades. Streamlining development approvals keeps our local tradespeople working.
Downtown revitalization is also housing policy. The residential component of Brendale Square should be equally thoughtful — a mixture of market rental and affordable housing, with opportunities to create housing suited to seniors, Community Living clients and others who need appropriate options.
Help Make This Happen
This campaign is powered by the community. Request a lawn sign, join the team, or send me your thoughts on this priority directly.