HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 02-25 Report to
Council
Report Number: PLN 02-25
Date: January 27, 2025
From: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report
- File: D-1300-016
Recommendation:
1. That Report PLN 02-25, regarding the City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring
Report, be received for information.
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is twofold: to provide an update to
Council on the steps staff have undertaken to implement the Action Items of the Pickering
Housing Strategy & Action Plan (see Appendix I to Report PLN 02-25); and to report back on
tracking affordable and rental housing, including existing, approved, and/or pending private
rental buildings, in accordance with Resolution #956/22.
Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond
to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priorities of Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe &
Healthy Community; Advance Innovation & Responsible Planning to Support a Connected,
Well-Serviced Community; and Foster an Engaged & Informed Community.
Financial Implications: The recommendations of this report do not present any financial
implications to the City.
Discussion: The purpose of this report is twofold: to provide an update to Council on the
steps staff have undertaken to implement the Action Items of the Pickering Housing Strategy &
Action Plan; and to report back on tracking affordable and rental housing.
1. Background
The Pickering Housing Strategy & Action Plan, 2021-2031, (the “Housing Strategy”) was
approved on January 24, 2022 by Resolution #790/22. One of the items in the Action
Plan was the preparation of an annual monitoring report to describe how well the City is
meeting its housing needs. Subsequently, on June 30, 2022, Council passed Resolution
#956/22, requesting staff’s reporting in accordance with Action Item 3.7 to also include
tracking affordable and rental housing, including existing, approved, and/or pending
private rental buildings.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 2
The first annual housing monitoring report was submitted to Council in June 2023 and
contained statistics regarding affordable and rental housing to the end of December
2022. This is the second annual report, containing statistics on affordable and rental
housing and other relevant metrics monitored to the end of December 2023.
2. Housing Strategy Action Item Monitoring
Since the Pickering Housing Strategy & Action Plan was approved in 2022, staff have
completed four Action Items and have initiated work on 16 Action Items. Appendix I to
this report provides an update on the status of the Action Items to the end of 2024.
Highlights of actions taken include the following:
2.1 Additional Dwelling Unit By-laws Approved (Action Item 1.8)
On September 30, 2023, Council adopted City initiated Official Plan Amendment 49,
and approved new zoning regulations for additional dwelling units (ADUs). These
Council decisions brought Pickering’s Official Plan and zoning by-laws into conformity
with changes made to the Planning Act through Bill 23.
Through this approval, properties containing detached dwellings, semi-detached
dwellings, block townhouses, or street townhouses are permitted to contain a maximum
of two ADUs. Qualifying properties are permitted to have either one ADU in the main
residence; two ADUs in the main residence; one ADU in a separate building located in
the backyard or side yard; or one ADU in the main residence and one ADU in a
separate building located in the backyard or side yard.
2.2 Senior Planner, Housing (Action Item 3.8)
The approved 2023 budget identified the creation of an Office of Affordability, and a
Senior Planner, Housing staff position, within the City Development Department. The
position was subsequently filled in May of 2024.
2.3 Action Items Addressed through Pickering Official Plan Review
(Action Items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 1.12, and 3.1)
City Development staff recently began a multi-year process of reviewing the Pickering
Official Plan. This project, known as “Pickering Forward”, will help shape the growth of
Pickering to 2051. One of the key components of Pickering Forward is housing and
housing affordability. The Official Plan Review will include a review of the Action Items
(listed above) in the Housing Strategy, and the implementation of the Action Items
through the creation of new or revised policies to help address housing options,
affordability, and accessibility within Pickering.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 3
3. Tracking Affordable and Rental Housing
The private rental market consists of the primary rental market (often referred to as
purpose-built rental buildings), and the secondary rental market (units not purposely
built for the rental market, but currently being rented out). It is generally acknowledged
that the condominium apartment market has acted largely as the rental accommodation
supplier for many years within the Greater Toronto Area.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) conducts an annual Rental
Market Survey. The survey collects data to confirm the number of units in primary rental
buildings (containing at least three rental units), which have been on the market for at
least three months.
The following chart reflects the number of primary rental units CMHC has identified for
Pickering in 2023, consisting of townhouses and apartments totaling 335 units.
325
3 6 1 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
3+ Bedrooms 2 Bedroom 1 Bedroom Bachelor
Studios
Pickering's Primary Rental Market Units By Size
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, 2023.
The following table displays the average primary rent by unit type for the
Pickering/Ajax/Uxbridge area.
Year 1 Bedroom 2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms
2018 $ 953 $1,248 $1,397
2019 $ 982 $1,237 $1,489
2020 $1,198 $1,362 $1,506
2021 $ 965 $1,302 $1,563
2022 $1,193 $1,533 $1,608
2023 $1,400 $1,805 $2,006
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, 2023.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 4
3.1 Vacancy Rates for Rental Units
According to CMHC, a vacancy rate of 3.0% is identified as a healthy vacancy rate,
representing a balance between rental housing supply and demand. Vacancy rates are
based upon CMHC’s Annual Rental Market Survey. A unit is considered vacant if it is
physically unoccupied and available for immediate rental at the time of the survey.
CMHC reports the consolidated vacancy rate for Pickering, Ajax, and Uxbridge (Zone 28)
under the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).
In 2023, the total apartment vacancy rate (including all bedroom types) for Zone 28 was
0.9%. This rate has continued to decrease since 2016. Pickering’s overall vacancy rate
can be better captured by looking at the vacancy rate of three-bedroom apartments, as
they account for 97% of Pickering primary rental units. As of 2021, the average vacancy
rate of three-bedroom apartments was 0.5%. The overall low apartment vacancies
suggest that there is a need for purpose built rental units in Pickering.
3.2 Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)
The chart below illustrates the number of ADUs approved in Pickering from 2005 to
2023. The total number of ADUs in Pickering by the end of 2023 amounts to 921 units.
These units may, in part, be contributing towards Pickering’s affordable rental housing
stock, depending on how the units are being used by homeowners.
Source: City of Pickering, AMANDA Database, 2023.
4. Residential Building Permit Activity
In 2023, staff received 1,969 building permit applications, which proposed the
construction of 2,906 residential units. Permits for construction were issued for a total of
2,511 residential units, comprising 1,028 apartments, 829 single and semi-detached
dwellings, and 654 townhouses.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 5
The chart below illustrates the percentage of units by dwelling type for which building
permits were issued in 2023 in comparison to previous years.
Source: City of Pickering, AMANDA Database, 2023
The data above indicates that building permits for apartments surged in comparison to
townhouses, and single & semi-detached dwelling units. Additionally, there was a
decline in building permits granted for single and semi-detached dwellings, which
dropped by 13% from 2022 to 2023. During this period, the most significant decrease
among all housing types was townhouse building permits, which experienced a 28%
decrease from 2022 to 2023. The increase in apartment units has contributed to
Pickering exceeding the Provincial housing target in 2023.
The chart below illustrates the percentage of units, by dwelling type in the City, which
were approved through registered subdivisions or condominiums in 2023.
Source: City of Pickering, AMANDA Database, 2023
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 6
As shown above, in 2023, the share of registered subdivision or condominium units
were in the form of either townhouse, semi-detached, or single detached dwellings
units.
5. Existing developments with affordable units
5.1 Trillium Housing
One of the condominium developments registered in 2023 included an affordable
housing development, consisting of 216 stacked townhouse units of which 38 of the
units have been sold to purchasers who qualify for a no-payment Trillium Mortgage,
which creates deeper affordability. The development is located at the southeast corner
of William Jackson Drive and Earl Grey Avenue, opposite Rex Heath Drive, within the
Duffin Heights Neighbourhood. All building permits were issued for this development,
construction is substantially complete, and the City has granted occupancy for all of the
units.
6. Approved developments with affordable units
6.1 Tribute Lands at the northwest corner of Highway 401 and Liverpool Road
This development is under construction. It consists of three towers with a total of
1,779 total residential units, on a mixed-use podium of 1,155 square metres of
commercial/retail. The developer has partnered with Habitat for Humanity GTA, to sell
27 (two and three-bedroom) affordable residential units to low-income families. As of the
end of 2023, site grading had commenced. Occupancies are anticipated in the first two
towers within the next five years.
6.2 1786 Liverpool Road (currently the site of Makimono Restaurant)
This site is zoned to permit the development of a 48-storey residential condominium
apartment building, containing 594 residential units, and 190 square metres of
commercial space at grade. The proposed development is going through the site plan
approval process. To address affordability, 10 affordable rental units are proposed,
inclusive of two 1-bedroom suites, five 1-bedroom plus den suites, two 2-bedroom
suites, and one 3-bedroom suite.
Through a proposed agreement with the condominium corporation, the owner intends to
retain ownership of the affordable rental units. The monthly rent is planned at 80% of
the average of the five most recent market rental transactions for units with the same
number of bedrooms. The affordable units are proposed to be available for a maximum
10-year period. Redevelopment of the site has not commenced.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 7
7. Development Applications with proposed affordable units
7.1 1066 Dunbarton Road (Dunbarton Fairport United Church)
The applicant is proposing 33 stacked townhouse dwelling units and eight townhouses.
Dwelling units will be contained within four separate building blocks proposed to be
3-storeys in height. The 41 dwelling units are proposed to be retained by the property
owner and be rental tenure, with 30% of the units (approximately 13 units) targeted to
be affordable at 80% of the Median Market Rent per the CMHC National Housing
Co-Investment Fund criteria. This application is dormant as there has been no response
from the applicant to the City’s status letter, dated July 2023.
7.2 1515 Pickering Parkway
This site is zoned to permit the development of 571 units within a 40-storey residential
condominium building, with a podium ranging between four and six storeys. The
proposed development is going through site plan approval. To address affordability, the
developer has indicated, through a letter of intent, to offer one housing unit to Habitat for
Humanity GTA, at no cost. It is anticipated that this would be implemented through an
agreement with the condominium corporation. This proposed development is currently
being marketed.
8. Legislative Changes Affecting Affordable Housing
Since the approval of the Housing Strategy & Action Plan, 2022, there have been
significant changes to Provincial legislation that impact the planning, approval, and
construction of affordable housing in Ontario. For example, the Province has approved
a new definition for “Affordable Residential Units” for the purposes of calculating
development charges in accordance with the Development Charges Act, 1997.
Subsequently, the Province issued Housing Bulletins that set out the average purchase
prices, market rents, and income-based thresholds for municipalities that are to be used
to determine the eligibility of a residential unit for an exemption from development
charges, the maximum community benefits charge, and parkland dedication
requirements. A summary chart of Pickering’s Bulletin is contained in Appendix II.
Effective October 20, 2024, a new Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (new PPS),
came into effect. The new PPS replaces the former Provincial Policy Statement and the
Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. There are many new and revised policy
statements in the new PPS related to housing. Staff will be reviewing the new PPS, as
well as any other legislative or policy changes that may impact housing, through both
the 2024 update to the Housing Strategy & Action Plan, and the Official Plan Review.
9. Conclusion
This report outlines the actions taken by the City since the previous and first Annual
Housing Monitoring Report, provides updates on the City’s affordable and rental
housing developments, and provides other housing statistics related to housing
affordability in Pickering.
PLN 02-25 January 27, 2025
Subject: City of Pickering Annual Housing Monitoring Report Page 8
Appendices:
Appendix I Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitor Report
Appendix II Affordable Residential Units for the Purposes of the Development Charges Act,
1997 Bulletin
Attachment: None
Prepared By:
Original Signed By
Déan Jacobs, MCIP, RPP
Manager, Policy & Geomatics
Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed By
Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP
Chief Planner
Original Signed By
Kyle Bentley, P. Eng.
Director, City Development & CBO
DJ:CR:ld
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Original Signed By
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Appendix I to
Report No. PLN 02-25
Action Item Update –
Annual Housing Monitor Report
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Pickering Housing Strategy Action Plan
Each action is categorized according to the following themes: policy, financial incentives, and other. A timeframe and
estimated cost of implementation has been identified for each action and is shown in the table below. In addition, the table
identifies the gap from the Phase 1: Research and Gap Analysis Report, March 31, 2021, that the action addresses and
the City department to lead the initiative.
Gaps Identified through the Research and Gap Analysis Report, March 31, 2021.
• Gap 1 relates to the need for housing options for:
• Low and moderate income earners
• Rental and ownership housing
• Range of unit sizes, and
• Accessible units
• Gap 3 relates to the need for:
• Home ownership housing options for moderate
income earners
• Range of unit sizes, and
• Accessible units
• Gap 2 relates to the need for:
• Primary rental market units of all sizes
• Protection of units in the primary rental market
• Accessible units in the primary rental market
• Gap 4 are policy gaps related to housing in the City’s
Official Plan that are the result of new or recent
changes to provincial legislation.
Legend for updated Action Plan below:
Timeframe
Short-term
■□□
1-5 years
Medium-term
□■□
5-10 years
Long-term
□□■
10 or more years
Cost Estimate
Low
$ Under $10,000
Medium
$$ $10,000-$25,000
High
$$$ Over $25,000
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.0 Policy
1.1 Add a definition of “affordable
housing” to the City’s Official
Plan, which includes reference to
the average purchase price and
average market rent in
accordance with the definition in
the Provincial Policy Statement,
2020 (now Provincial Planning
Statement 2024).
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
The definition will be included
through the City Official Plan
Review process, currently
underway.
1.2 Add a definition of “Housing
Options” to the City’s Official Plan.
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Both the approved Regional
Official Plan (ROP) and recently
released Provincial Planning
Statement 2024 (PPS 2024)
contain a definition of housing
options.
The definition will be included
through the City Official Plan
Review process.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.3 Amend the City’s Official Plan to
reflect the Provincial Policy
Statement 2020 requirement for
the municipality to maintain the
ability to accommodate residential
growth for a minimum of 15 years
(as opposed to 10 years as
currently written).
Note: The Provincial Policy
Statement 2020 has been
replaced by the Provincial
Planning Statement 2024 (PPS).
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
The PPS 2024 states that
municipalities shall maintain, at
all times, the ability to
accommodate residential growth
for a minimum of 15 years
through lands which are
designated and available for
residential development.
The recently approved ROP
states the timeframe is a
minimum of 15-years through
lands which are designated and
available to accommodate
residential growth.
This action item will be
implemented through the City
Official Plan Review process.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.4 Consider amending the City’s
Official Plan to reflect the
Provincial Policy Statement 2020
option to increase from 3 to 5
years the minimum number of
years to accommodate a short-
term supply of residential lands,
subject to the outcome of Durham
Region’s Envision Durham
exercise.
Note: The Provincial Policy
Statement 2020 has been
replaced by the Provincial
Planning Statement 2024 (PPS).
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ Currently Being Reviewed
The recently approved PPS 2024
states that authorities shall
maintain, at all times, where new
development is to occur, land
with servicing capacity sufficient
to provide at least a three-year
supply of residential units,
available through lands suitably
zoned, including units in draft
approved or registered plans.
Staff will seek to implement this
action item through the City’s
Official Plan Review process.
1.5 Add new official plan policy to
protect existing rental housing
stock from conversion.
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■■□ $ Currently Being Reviewed
Staff are monitoring the changes
to the Municipal Act that permit
the Minister to make regulations
imposing limits and conditions on
the powers of a local municipality
to prohibit and regulate the
demolition and conversion of
residential rental properties.
There is not no timeline available
for when the Minister may
introduce the regulations.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.6 Add new Official Plan policy which
prohibits the demolition of existing
rental housing units unless the
proposed redevelopment meets
specified conditions.
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■■□ $ Currently Being Reviewed
Staff are monitoring the changes
to the Municipal Act that permit
the Minister to make regulations
imposing limits and conditions on
the powers of a local municipality
to prohibit and regulate the
demolition and conversion of
residential rental properties.
There is no timeline for when the
Minister may introduce the
regulations.
1.7 Consider adding new Official Plan
policies to implement “inclusionary
zoning” in Major Transit Station
Areas, following Durham Region’s
completion of the “Assessment
Report”.
Note: the “Assessment Report”
refers to an assessment report for
inclusionary zoning, and not a
housing assessment report, which
describes the current and future
housing needs of a municipality or
community.
Gap 4 City
Development
■■□ ■■□ $ Currently Being Reviewed
Durham has completed a
Regional Assessment Report for
Inclusionary Zoning.
Staff will assess the potential
impacts of the recent changes to
the Planning Act, which limits the
use of Inclusionary Zoning, as
part of our ongoing work.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.8 Additional Dwelling Units:
(a) Review and update the City
zoning by-laws and Two-
Dwelling Unit By-law to reflect
the More Homes, More
Choice Act changes to permit
Additional Dwelling Units in a
detached, semi-detached or
townhouse as well as in a
building or structure ancillary
to a detached house, semi-
detached or townhouse.
(b) Consider allowing Additional
Dwelling Units in rural areas
subject to the capacity of well
and septic systems.
(c) Consider reducing or
removing the City’s parking
requirement for Additional
Dwelling Units located in
areas well served by transit.
(d) Examine other existing zoning
requirements that may
present barriers to increasing
Additional Dwelling Units
within the City.
Gaps 2, 4 City
Development,
Corporate
Services
(Municipal Law
Enforcement)
■■□ ■□□ $ Completed
Project Website:
https://www.pickering.ca/en/city-
hall/additional-dwelling-
units.aspx
Council approved amendments
to the City’s zoning by-laws in
September 2024 to permit ADU’s
in accordance with the Planning
Act.
Also, a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between
Pickering and Whitby has been
entered into for the sharing of
resources to prepare pre-
approved building drawings, for
detached ADUs. This program
aims to streamline design
selection and building permits for
detached ADUs.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.9 Ensure that the City’s Official Plan
policies and zoning regulations do
not present barriers to shared
living (co-housing, co-living)
arrangements in appropriate
areas as-of-right.
Gaps 1-3 City
Development
■□□ $ Completed 2022
Staff completed a review and
established that there are no
barriers to shared living
arrangements in the policies of
the Pickering Official Plan.
1.10 Consider removing or reducing
the minimum requirement for
parking spaces for affordable
housing and/or supportive
housing and allowing developers
to propose alternative parking
space options.
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Recent changes to the Planning
Act removed the ability of
municipalities to impose
minimum parking requirements in
Protected Major Transit Station
Areas (PMTSA). Policies
regarding minimum parking
requirements for areas outside
PMTSA’s will be analyzed
through the current Official Plan
review process.
1.11 Consider discouraging “down
zoning” high and medium density
residential designations to lower
density residential designations.
Gap 4 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
The inclusion of policies
discouraging ”down zoning” will
be considered through the
current Official Plan review.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
1.12 Add an Official Plan policy
requiring the submission of an
Affordability and Accessibility
Analysis as part of a complete
application for residential
development, subject to criteria.
Gaps 1-3 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Although staff is already
requesting the submission of an
affordable housing brief for major
residential development
applications, the development
application submission
requirements will be updated
through an upcoming house-
keeping amendment to the
Pickering Official Plan, to include
an Affordable and Accessible
Analysis.
2.0 Financial Incentives
2.1 Consider establishing a corporate
policy whereby surplus or
underutilized City-owned lands or
buildings that are not required for
municipal purposes, such as for
parkland, are first considered for
development of affordable rental
housing.
Gaps 1-3 Corporate
Services,
Finance and City
Development
■■□ ■■□ $$ -
$$$
Work Has Not Commenced
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
2.2 Consider waiving fees or
providing a grant equivalent to
certain development application
fees, development charges,
property taxes, and/or parkland
dedication requirements, for
affordable rental, affordable
ownership, and/or supportive
housing developments on a case-
by-case basis.
Gaps 1-3 Finance □■□ □■■ $$ -
$$$
No longer required
City staff involvement not
required due to the introduction
of Bill 23 that has provided
financial relief to some degree for
affordable units. The loss of DC
fee revenues is now funded by
casino funds.
Bill 23 had a direct impact on the
action item as the Province
provided exemptions or
reductions to development
charges (DC’s) as--of-right.
Affordable units are exempt from
paying DC’s and parkland
dedications. Rental units have
reduced DC rates based on the
number of bedrooms.
2.3 Prioritize and facilitate approvals
for projects which provide
affordable rental, affordable
ownership, supportive housing,
and purpose-built rental housing
units.
Gaps 1-3 City
Development,
Engineering, Fire
■□□ ■□□ $ On-Going
Currently, applications that
include affordable or rental units
are prioritized and streamlined on
an ad hoc basis.
2.4 Consider establishing a Housing
Reserve Fund which can be
funded through a special levy
and/or Community Benefit
Charge.
Gaps 1-3 Finance □■■ □■■ $ No longer required
This action item is no longer
required due to the introduction
of Bill 23.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
2.5 Consider undertaking a feasibility
study for a Vacant Home Tax.
Gaps 1-3 Finance □■□ □■□ $ Action not to be implemented
The introduction of a vacant
home tax requires administration
support and corresponding
financial resources. The benefits
are questionable when measured
against the cost to implement the
program. The actual number of
vacant homes is often much
smaller than initially believed. In
Toronto, only 2,100 properties
were declared empty out of
775,000 declarations which
represents a vacancy rate of
approximately 3/10”s of one
percent.
3.0 Other
3.1 Encourage developers to consider
designing flexible spaces that can
accommodate shared living or
multi-generational living.
Gaps 1, 3 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Through pre-consultation
meetings and preliminary
discussions, staff are
encouraging developers to
consider designing flexible
spaces.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
3.2 Consider connecting interested
developers with experts or
consultants in the field of
management, and operation, of
affordable, rental housing.
Gaps 2 Economic
Development,
City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Staff continue to network to
confirm opportunities to connect
the development community with
experts in affordable and rental
housing.
In May 2024, a new City policy,
and a formalized registration
process, was approved to better
profile and support local
ratepayer associations, which
offers direct communication to
each association regarding
Council and Committee
meetings.
3.3 Provide guidance to developers,
not-for-profits and other
proponents of affordable rental,
affordable ownership and/or
supportive housing, on the
planning and building approvals
processes.
Gaps 1-3 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
Staff provides guidance through
preliminary discussions regarding
the City‘s Housing Strategy, and
through formal pre-consultation
comments. Staff will continue to
review what information
packages can be created to
further assist, and educate,
proponents in the planning and
building approval process.
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
3.4 Share information with developers
about funding and other
incentives available to address
the City’s housing needs.
Gaps 1-3 City
Development
■□□ ■□□ $ In Progress
The City’s website includes a
weblink to Durham Housing
information. See: Affordable and
Emergency Housing - City of
Pickering
City Development staff
participates in a Durham Region
Working Group tasked with
investigating updating policies
regarding exemptions for
affordable housing proposals.
3.5 Consider advocating for the
Province to establish a minimum
number of accessible units or a
percentage of accessible units for
major residential development.
Gaps 1-3 Corporate
Communications
■□□ ■□□ $ Work Has Not Commenced
3.6 Consider advocating for the
school boards to reduce, waive
and/or defer their portion of
Development Charges for
affordable rental housing.
Gaps 1, 2 Corporate
Communications
■□□ ■□□ $ Work Has Not Commenced
Action Item Update – Annual Housing Monitoring Report
Action Gap #
Addressed
Lead
Department
Initial
Time
Frame
New
Time
Frame
Cost Status Update
3.7 Establish a Monitoring Plan that
will annually update and review
the baseline data set established
in the Research and Gap Analysis
Report, March 31, 2021, to
ensure goals and objectives of the
Housing Strategy are being met.
Gaps 1-4 City
Development
■□□ ■■■ $ Ongoing
Staff are continuously working
with Regional and Provincial
partners to understand what data
sources can be monitored and
the most effective means of
reporting the data.
Monitoring will include tracking
affordable and rental housing
including existing, proposed, and
approved applications. (as per
Council Resolution #956/22).
3.8 To consider adding a dedicated
function, similar to an Office of
Affordability, within the City, the
scope of work which would
include being responsible for
implementing the Pickering
Housing Strategy & Action Plan
2021-2031, December 22, 2021.
Gaps 1-4 City
Development
$$$ Completed 2024
A Senior Planner, Housing was
hired in May 2024.
A new cost centre for an Office of
Affordability, in the City
Development Department, was
established through the 2024
Budget process.
Appendix II to
Report No. PLN 02-25
Affordable Residential Units for the
Purposes of the Development Charges Act, 1997 Bulletin
The Affordable Residential Units for the Purposes of the Development Charges
Act, 1997 Bulletin
Note: The bulletin is effective June 1, 2024 and will be updated/revised June 1, 2025)
The bulletin sets out the market-based (that is, average purchase prices and market
rents) and income-based thresholds that are to be used to determine the eligibility of a
residential unit for an exemption from development charges and exclusions from the
maximum community benefits charge and parkland dedication requirements.
Applicable units must be subject to agreements that provide for them to remain
affordable residential units for 25 years. Units must also be sold or rented on an arm's
length basis.
For ownership housing, a unit would be considered affordable when the purchase price
is at or below the lesser of:
•Income-based purchase price: A purchase price that would result in annual
accommodation costs equal to 30% of a household’s gross annual income for a
household at the 60th percentile of the income distribution for all households in
the local municipality; and
•Market-based purchase price: 90% of the average purchase price of a unit of the
same unit type in the local municipality.
For rental housing, a unit would be considered affordable when the rent is at or below
the lesser of:
•Income-based rent: Rent that is equal to 30% of gross annual household income
for a household at the 60th percentile of the income distribution for renter
households in the local municipality; and
•Market-based rent: Average market rent of a unit of the same unit type in the
local municipality.
Bulletin for Pickering:
Affordable Purchase Price: SDU, Semi-detached DU, Townhouse,
Condo apartment
$499,400
Affordable Monthly Rent: Bachelor apartment $1036
Affordable Monthly Rent: One Bedroom apartment $1396
Affordable Monthly Rent: Two Bedroom apartment $1640