A proposed small-lot subdivision in south Fairfield will go to public hearing despite concerns that rather than creating more affordable housing, it likely will result in more million-dollar homes.
Prodigy Development Services/RM2 Developments wants to rezone 115 Moss St. — currently occupied by a single residence — into three small lots.
“There isn’t an acute housing need in our community for houses that are going to be priced where these three new homes will be,” said Coun. Ben Isitt, who was against sending the proposal to public hearing.
Isitt estimated the new houses would sell for more than $750,000 each. He said he wants to see developments that address the most pressing housing needs.
“We need new housing at the lower end of the spectrum, not higher up,” he said.
Isitt also noted that the two immediate neighbours are in opposition. “I don’t see a compelling counter-benefit to justify imposing this right next to their homes.”
Coun. Geoff Young said the small-lot zone is designed to be used in areas where densification is appropriate — along arterials or in neighbourhoods that border higher-density areas.
“I can certainly see that around the Cook Street Village there might … be justification for this kind of densification. But none of those apply here,” Young said.
The existing house, which would be retained, sits on two lots, so two houses could be accommodated without a zoning change. But the idea of carving three lots out from the parcel was too much for some councillors.
Young said he’d have no problem with two houses on the existing lots, but that creating a new third lot “is the wrong way to densify.”
“It’s sending a message of instability to our neighbourhoods,” he said, adding that it is reasonable for neighbours to expect a form of development consistent with “what’s been in the neighbourhood for 100 years.”
Coun. Pam Madoff agreed with Young. The application doesn’t meet the spirit and intent of the zone, she said, suggesting the city should revisit its small-lot policies.
“When this zone was put in place, the intention was that it would stabilize neighbourhoods that were under threat of property acquisition, demolition and redevelopment, but also that it would create a more affordable form of housing because the houses would be smaller,” Madoff said.
A nearby small-lot house is on the market for $1.2 million, she said, adding that while council has a role in addressing the housing affordability crisis, “we can play a significant role in not inflating property values based on speculation of rezoning.”
But Mayor Lisa Helps and other councillors said the proposal should go to public hearing.
“I understand that the people on both sides would be affected by this, but I also understand that our job is to make sure that the housing ecosystem in this city is robust,” Helps said.
Coun. Jeremy Loveday said affordable housing has to be created through policy and incentives. “If we’re trying to create affordable housing policy, we need to do it,” he said. “We can’t expect other people to come and do it for us.”
Coun. Chris Coleman said the proposal “met the threshold” for moving to a hearing.
“We say we want to see more density in our city,” he said, “but every time we have something that brings more density, we tend to be very, very austere with it.”
