Moncton eyes allowing 4-unit housing across city to access federal funds

Moncton is reviewing its zoning rules in order to access millions in federal housing funding, a move that could allow four-unit buildings in any residential area.

The city applied for $13.4 million over several years through the housing accelerator fund. The $4-billion program introduced in last year's federal budget runs until 2026-27 and is intended to speed housing construction across the country.

City staff say Sean Fraser, the federal housing minister, responded to Moncton's application earlier this month with additional requests, requiring a commitment from the city before starting to release funding. 

Monday's unanimously approved motion has three components:

• Endeavour to increase density around post-secondary institutions like l'Université de Moncton.
• Direct city staff to look at reducing restrictions on accessory dwellings, things like garden suites above a detached garage or basement apartments.
• Direct staff to propose amendments to bylaws that would legalize allowance of four unit-dwellings in all residential zones across the city.

The final point, if eventually implemented by council, could affect areas of the city zoned to only allow one or two units. 

Nothing is expected to immediately change with the city's zoning rules, and the change to rules around allowing four-unit buildings could take more than a year. 

"There's still a lengthy process for us to look at our zoning bylaw to see how we can tweak the lot development standards, tweak the design standards to see how this request can be accommodated," Andrew Smith, the city's manager of long-range policy planning, told reporters Monday.

"So it is still a 12- to 18-month process."

But the vote is expected to result in funding starting to flow within the next month or two. 

Some of the city's other proposed 16 actions are expected to get underway sooner.

Smith told reporters there's a grant program proposed that would provide development incentives across the city. The city already has an incentive program focused on downtown. 

Two of the grant programs would be focused on affordable housing built by non-profits corporations, Smith said. 

More details about the proposed actions are expected to be made public in the future. 

"It's going to really accelerate housing immediately," Bill Budd, the city's director of planning and development, told reporters. 

Moncton has seen record-setting construction in recent years, and Statistics Canada has reported the region is one of the fastest-growing metro areas across the country. 

An urban growth strategy, looking at where housing should be built in the future, forecasts the city's population will reach 116,200 by 2046, a 44 per cent increase over 2021.

It also projects the number of residential units in the city will grow by 16,100 over that time. 

A housing report, presented to council in June, found that construction of apartment buildings wasn't keeping up with rental demand.

Mayor Dawn Arnold said at the time that the report would be used to seek federal funding. 

Moncton's vote on Monday took place during a special council meeting lasting less than 10 minutes after councillors discussed the issue at a private meeting earlier in the day. 

The federal government has already approved several municipal applications under the housing accelerator fund, including for Halifax, which is set to receive $79 million. 

London, Ont., will get $74 million, while Vaughan, Ont., will get $59 million. 

Last week, Mississauga's mayor overrode a council vote that initially rejected a proposal to allow more fourplexes in the city. The mayor said it was a move to ensure the city could still access $120 million in federal funding.