To try and provide more housing options, members of Chatham-Kent Council have asked administration prepare a draft official plan and zoning by-law amendment that would possibly allow the building of additional housing on rural properties.
The next step will be for public engagement to give feedback on the proposed draft official plan and zoning bylaw amendment. After the public engagement with stakeholders, council will discuss the proposed changes in June.
Councillor Melissa Harrigan brought forward the motion, noting that Chatham-Kent has done a lot of work in developing housing in urban areas, and this motion will direct staff to look at possible opportunities in changing policies to help develop housing in rural areas.
She said neighbouring municipalities have implemented policies in rural areas to develop secondary housing on rural properties. As well, Harrigan said rural residents have reached out to her about secondary dwellings on farm properties to help address the growing need for new housing in rural areas of Chatham-Kent.
If a new official plan and zoning by-law amendment was adopted, it would have Chatham-Kent bring in new policies that would allow rural residents to build additional houses on their properties. As well, it would allow for the division of non-farm properties in rural areas for new residential uses.
