No home left behind as Powassan adopts housing study with something for everyone

by Laurel Campbell

Mar 12, 2008

POWASSAN – A move to increase housing for seniors is the next step in meeting Powassan’s housing needs after council adopted the municipality's new housing study during its March 4 meeting.

“Given that the population of the municipality is small, but dynamic, the residents have shown a strong commitment to addressing the housing needs of the community,” said consultant Keith Harriman who has been working on the plan since the summer of 2007. “The study identifies 29 recommendations that could make a difference in the housing sector, including building stronger and longer relationships with developers, investment partners, government agencies and the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB). If these relationships are address, it could result in a united front that could eventually provide housing opportunities for more residents in the municipality.”

Deputy-mayor Nancy Barner, who sat on the housing study committee, calls the new document “exciting and impressive, especially as it addressed the senior population which is moving from the traditional four bedroom family home into something smaller and without the maintenance requirement. There’s already a lot of enthusiasm building around the study and it is not going to be a document put on the shelf to collect dust.”

The Municipality of Powassan Economic Development (MoPED) chair (NAME) agrees that “this is a bankable document for investors. Anyone thinking about investing in housing in Powassan can incorporate this study into a business plan to present to lenders with all the demographic evidence of the need for a variety of different housing types,” he said.

Housing options included in the study meet the needs of seniors and single parent families including project proposals for single family homes, non-profit and for-profit apartments, and condominiums. The study also encourages the implementation of life lease options.

“Life leases are becoming a very popular form of affordable housing that can be geared specifically to retirement living, ”said Harriman. “Basically the program offers older adults an opportunity to purchase a life lease that, in turn, provides them with security of tenure for the balance of their life.”

The housing study strategy has identified realistic goals and objectives that meet the specific needs of the municipality including making the transition from seniors living independently to an environment where some medical assistance or housing support is required.

Following its acceptance by council, the study will now go to the municipality’s strategic plan implementation committee and MoPED for further review and discussion with council and members of the community on how to proceed.

With Powassan’s municipal water and sewer upgrades still ongoing, the study recommends the municipality look at ways to start housing projects in already serviced areas by allowing higher density units, like apartment building, as well as look at existing downtown locations that could be converted into housing units through financial assistance by the province. While there are two areas within the serviced area that have been zoned for further residential development, neither can move forward until the water and wastewater capacity has been increased. As a result, building permits currently being issued are primarily for rural lots, which Harriman says “supports the claim that building in the rural areas, on smaller, more manageable and affordable property is attractive, especially in the south end of the municipality where demand for single family dwelling units is strong and consistent over the past five years.”

In covering housing needs for all age groups, Barner says the study, “is truly reflective of our demographics and potential housing options that allow our residents the ability to stay in their home community through all stages of their housing needs, rather than having them move out of the municipality when they are ready to downsize their accommodation, but still wish to retain their independent living.”

George says the housing plan, which is a direct result of the municipality's new strategic plan, “is part of the municipal effort to further develop our community based on our quality of life with the emphasis on the right balance of homes for local residents and those who may wish to move here. We need to fill in the gaps for the healthy seniors and for young people who may be looking for rental accommodation.”

“The study has left us very well positioned to move forward,” said Barner. “We are still in the very early stages of our 2008 municipal budget deliberations, and the next key factor will be how much financial and staff resources we have to commit to implementing the recommendations.”