Brock Township lets housing control by-law expire

by The Standard | December 9th, 2021 Podcast https://thestandardnewspaper.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BT-lets-bylaw-expire-Dec-9th-2021.wav

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

BROCK: The Township of Brock has let their Interim Control Bylaw, regarding supportive and modular housing, expire, paving the way for the Region of Durham’s Beaverton Supportive Housing project to start moving forward.

“Just over a year ago, and in response to resident and Council concerns, Township of Brock passed Interim Control By-law 2994-2020 (ICBL), which prohibited Modular Construction, including Manufactured Dwelling Houses and Supportive Housing Facilities for a period of 12 months,” read a press release from the Township of Brock. “During that year, a Housing Study was completed, and Council pursued all available avenues to ensure community concerns were addressed. Based on the completed study, there was no justification for extending the ICBL, or any restrictions with respect to the number of units.”

During a special council meeting in late November, planner Debbie Vandenakker told councillors “there was no planning justification for extending the [Interim Control Bylaw].”

“We’ve asked the questions, had the study commissioned and we know the answers now,” she said.

Ms. Vandenakker added, if Council did decide to extend the control bylaw for another year, the decision could then be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. She stated, Council has “no tool to say no to this project.”

With the control bylaw expired, the Township will now have to process a site plan application from the Region. But, there were benefits the Township achieved through minutes of settlement with the Region. These include adjusting “the resident split, to 30 residents, from the Region’s By-Name Homeless list, and 17 residents [who] are improperly housed in Durham, for the first four years, with priority being given to residents of North Durham”. It also involves: having an “On-site twenty-four-hour security and CCTV system within the development;” in addition to having on-site “mental health and support services, with twenty-four-hour staffing;” and a “commitment to help source a permanent doctor for Beaverton in conjunction with Lakeridge Health, with a contribution of up to $100,000 should the collaborated recruitment effort not be successful.” It also covered, for the Region to provide “advocacy for a full-time police officer in Beaverton or an alternative, to enhanced policing in the Township.” The Region has also committed to an occupancy limit of one resident per unit. CAO Ingrid Svelnis said, the Township has spent “considerable time, trying to do what we can to make this project better.”

There were mixed feelings around the council table, following the decision to let the Interim Control Bylaw expire.

Ward 1 Councillor Michael Jubb said, while he still does not support this project, he acknowledged the Township has “exerted all options and avenues” they have.

“This is truly the best we could do,” he said.

Ward 5 Councillor Lynn Campbell said, she was “satisfied” with the agreement and she wanted to stay “positive” about the project. However, Ward 3 Councillor Walter Schummer stated he couldn’t support the agreement.

“Many wins are not what they might seem,” he said.

Councillor Schummer also added, “these services [provided for the facility] must be excellent, not just sufficient or adequate.”

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