The Town of The Blue Mountains has confirmed its desire to work with Grey County on a regional housing strategy.
At its meeting on Jan. 30, council voted to seek collaboration with the county and other local municipalities on an affordable/attainable housing strategy. At a committee of the whole meeting earlier in January, council had decided to ask Grey County to consider taking the lead on the development of a regional housing strategy.
Committee of the whole decisions must be ratified at the next full council meeting. Councillors Paula Hope and June Porter questioned the strategy of pursuing a county-led housing study.
“Grey County has passed its (2024) budget,” said Porter, who noted that town staff estimated it would cost $350,000 for a housing strategy just for the town. “(A housing strategy) for Grey County would be a bigger budget. It would be an addition and a larger approval.”
While Hope said she thought waiting on a county approach would set the town back on the file.
“We can’t wait for things to go through Grey County,” she said.
Other members of council wanted to pursue the county initiative and said it was a good idea to look at the affordable/attainable housing issue on a wider basis.
“We don’t have an extra $350,000 to spend on something we know is a crisis here,” said Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon.
Mayor Andrea Matrosovs pointed out that Grey County has housing staff with the expertise to lead the charge on the file. The mayor also said the town, at this point, was simply asking the county to take the lead on the matter.
“The whole continuum of housing has to be looked at together,” said Matrosovs. “I would like to formally ask the question. They have housing staff. They have a mandate.”
CAO Shawn Everitt brought the suggestion of seeking collaboration with the county on the project in a report at the committee of the whole. Everitt said he continues to believe working with the county on a regional basis is the best approach.
“I can tell you today, we’ve got an issue with housing. I could have told you five years ago,” said Everitt. “I do believe there is value in always looking at a regional approach.”
Council passed the resolution to ask Grey County to consider taking the lead on the housing strategy in a 4-2 vote. Hope and Porter were opposed and Coun. Alex Maxwell was absent.
