A recent report from Grey County about a regional housing plan has landed with a thud in the Town of The Blue Mountains.
At a committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 13, members of The Blue Mountains council were not shy about expressing their disappointment with a recent report on housing approved by Grey County council in Sept. 2024. The report is available online here.
The report called on the county to add $10,000 to a $50,000 budget to update its growth management study and to continue studying the housing issue and gathering data to complete a housing needs assessment.
Members of The Blue Mountains council were thoroughly unimpressed with the county’s planned approach to housing when they received a staff report updating council about the county’s report.
Last year, The Blue Mountains council declared a housing crisis in the community.
“What does this report do for the Town of The Blue Mountains with respect to housing?” Coun. June Porter asked. “What’s in it for us? I’m not seeing anything jump out.”
Acting CAO Adam Smith said the county report spoke to the importance of coordination on the housing file, as well as identified opportunities such as the exploration of a county-wide Community Improvement Plan to address the housing issue. Smith acknowledged that the report did not include any immediate solutions or action plans.
“There is no silver bullet that has been put forward to address the issue,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon, who sits on county council with Mayor Andrea Matrosovs (who was absent from this portion of the meeting), said he felt for the first time a resolution from The Blue Mountains on housing had “moved the needle” at county council.
“I think for the first time we’re going to get a little bit of traction,” he said.
Coun. Paula Hope said she is encouraged the county has responded to the issue, but expressed disappointment in the results.
“The Town of The Blue Mountains has to take care of itself, like it always has,” said Hope. “I don’t want to rely on hope any longer with this portfolio. There are too many people in need. The Blue Mountains has to take care of its own interests.”
Council chose to pass a resolution asking for a staff report that would outline what resources are needed to deliver an affordable housing action plan that would include measurable goals. The resolution asked for the report by Feb. 4.
