More than 60 per cent of Canmore residents who participated in an online survey this summer said they support efforts to create affordable housing in the community while maintaining the character of neighbourhoods at the same time.
The survey was conducted by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, the consultant contracted by the municipality for $30,000 to engage the community in the Livable Canmore Everybody Needs a Home process.
While the survey showed 63 per cent of the 334 people who took the online questionnaire supported affordable housing being created, it was only one aspect of the overall Livable Canmore process to be undertaken.
According to the report’s summary of feedback, the majority of people who engaged (over 500) in the campaign were “very supportive of the Town’s efforts and roles in affordable housing.”
Mayor John Borrowman welcomed the report at the last council meeting before summer break. He said while attending events held as part of the process, he was happy to see a broad cross section of the community represented in what is a critical conversation about Canmore’s future.
“I was really happy to see good representation from a broad section of the community and, in particular, the younger demographics we have encouraged to be involved in these discussions,” Borrowman said. “I thought it was a worthwhile approach and I hope we continue to use it in the future.”
Acting manager of communications Adam Robertson presented the final report to council at its July 5 meeting.
Robertson said in addition to supporting efforts to address a lack of available and affordable housing options, Canmorites said they have a role to play in finding solutions.
“Residents said they have a role to play in housing, whether it is renting out a suite or a support role in engaging with neighbours,” he said. “Residents highlighted in particular a need for more affordable housing options for workers, young families and young adults.”
In addition, Robertson said, the process showed there was considerable concern for how second homeownership in the community raises the cost of housing and that empty homes are not being used as rental accommodation.
As well, there were mixed comments around the perpetually affordable housing model (PAH) that is used by Canmore Community Housing Corporation. In fact, additional education and information around CCHC and what its role is was called for.
“There was mixed support for CCHC’s ownership model (PAH) and there is a need for more communication around CCHC’s role in the community,” Robertson told council.
Concerns were also raised by residents around the effects of affordable housing, including additional traffic and parking in residential neighbourhoods, a loss of green space and potential for noise and increased density in established neighbourhoods.
In general, those who participated supported increasing the supply of secondary or accessory suites and rental housing. There was also support for amenities as part of affordable housing, like adequate parking, green space, access to transit and storage space.
Robertson said the engagement process was approved by council as part of its 2016 budget and is directly related to council’s three-year strategic plan that sets out increasing the affordable housing stock as the number one priority.
It resulted in the Everybody Needs a Home engagement process as a way for council to better understand the community’s support for affordable housing initiatives and policies.
The process had a variety of ways for community members to participate including: workshops, open houses, online survey and pizza parties.
The next steps, said Robertson, include for the municipality to share results of the process with stakeholders and the community and to continue the conversation. He said that includes engaging residents early on when affordable housing developments are proposed, hosting neighbourhood charettes and continued communication.
Councillor Joanna McCallum, who also sits on the CCHC board, noted the report identified apartment style homes or townhouses, and not single family homes, as appropriate affordable housing developments.
She said it is important to differentiate between what people want as an ideal home – i.e. a single family home – and what they need to continue living in the community.
“I wonder if sometimes we all understand that what makes housing so expensive here is the land,” she added.
Robertson agreed that better defining what is affordable is important. Canmore Mortgage and Housing Corporation defines affordable as spending less than 30 per cent of your income on housing.
“There needs to be understanding between need and want and what affordability actually is … there was a lot of discussion around that,” he said.
McCallum also expressed a need for communicating with the public about what is actually feasible when it comes to housing solutions. She said in listening to general comments at a workshop, she heard a lot of solutions that may not actually be feasible given the legislative position a municipality is in.
“How do we close the loop with the public on those ideas and whether they are feasible or not?” she asked.
For example, she said, rent control is an idea often suggested, but not possible in the province of Alberta as it is legislated by that level of government and not the municipality.
Another example is housing for seniors to age in place. McCallum pointed to the fact that phase one of the expansion of the Bow River Seniors Lodge is underway and phase two is in design – it is something being worked on, but there is little awareness in the community.
