Bonnyville council passed a bylaw aimed at bringing housing development to town.
The Multiunit Housing Incentive Grant provides reimbursement of $10,000 for each new dwelling unit constructed to a maximum of 50 units. The units would consist of new developments with two or more dwellings constructed on R3 or R4 zoned property. These residential districts represent medium-density, R3 and high-density, R4.
Coun. Phil Kushnir expressed some concerns about the bylaw.
“We had some reservations about an apartment coming in and taking all the $500,000 in one apartment. I see that with this bylaw. That can happen because R4 is where apartments can be built,” he said. “All the smaller people who maybe want to build a duplex or a four-plex or an eight-plex, it’s first come first serve.”
Kushnir says they had discussed the bylaw at a previous meeting and was concerned about one builder taking the entire grant for a single development.
He says he wants local developers to have a chance at some of the grant.
“I would like to see our builders around here have a shot at this money. Not just from some outside entity because that will most likely be an outside entity that’s going to build an apartment building,” said Kushnir. “I’d like to see it go back and come back to us at the next meeting.”
Coun. Neil Langridge responded to the comments made by Kushnir, saying Bonnyville has a gap in available rentals.
“We have a lack of rentable places in Bonnyville right now, that includes apartments. The price has been driven up in our apartments because of the lack of availability,” said Langridge.
He looks at this grant as a positive hoping it will bring in development.
“The way I look at it, this grant is to spur development. If we can spur someone to build a 50-unit apartment, to me, hey, great,” said Langridge.
There is a benefit to having developments come into the town.
“Part of what I understand (is), we put these incentives together to spur development, and then as well, we’re going to be collecting taxes on these properties for years and years to come,” said Langridge.
“I think if someone wants to invest in our community, that’s a major investment to make by building something like that.”
If the fund is depleted, it would come back to council again for decision to reallocate funds.
Council voted unanimously in favour of providing second and third reading to the bylaw.
Read more: Town of Bonnyville considers housing grant
