P.E.I. changing its Planning Act to allow more housing density in rural areas

Some people who work in construction on P.E.I.are applauding a policy move by the provincial government to allow higher density builds in rural subdivisions.

Changes to the province's Planning Act will scrap current rules that say any new subdivisions with more than five lots need to have 10 per cent ofland dedicated as open green space.

Starting Thursday, that 10 per cent rule will only apply to new subdivisions in rural P.E.I. with more than 20 lots.

"I do think that'll help out a lot," saidRandy Mitchell of Anchored Construction.

"That'll probably promote more subdivisionsthat could be larger."

Many unincorporated rural areas and smaller communitiesfall under the jurisdiction of P.E.I.'s Planning Act, whereas municipalities with their own planning rules do not.

In towns like Three Rivers, where Mitchell is currently working on a development, the density rules are relatively flexible meaning he doesn't need to leave much land as green space.

Having similar leniency at a provincial level will likely make developments in rural areas more enticing to builders, he said.

Changes to rural housing density rules on P.E.I. a 'great move forward'

2 months ago

Duration 1:53

The P.E.I. government is changing regulations around how much land in a development must remain as green space. CBC's Steve Bruce speaks with the Construction Association of P.E.I's Sam Sanderson and developer Randy Mitchell to find out how more building on less land will benefit rural P.E.I.

"Having the ability to sell two extra lots is definitely a huge cost benefit for us as a contractor, and probably trickles down to the end user," MItchell said.

In aprovince faced witha housing crisis, land in urban areas in short supplyand the cost of building still high, thispolicy change is a necessary one, saidthe head of the Construction Associationof P.E.I.

"Any opportunity we have to reduce the cost and build more on that single piece of property, or multiple pieces of property, increases the ability to build more units, increase density, and reduce costs, so, it's a really good move forward," Sam Sandersonsaid.

Right across Canada, the federal government is encouraging larger municipalities to loosen their density rules and allow for more multi-unit buildings, with the promise of funding in return.

Some larger P.E.I. communities have taken the bait.

A deal inked in February will see Ottawa give the City of Charlottetown $10 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund as part of an agreement to fast-track 300 housing units over the next three years.

In exchange, Charlottetown agreed to make changes to its building permits and zoning rules that allow more dense development.

But Sanderson said development is needed in rural areas, too.

"The more we can do there the better, to encourage and entice developers to build in rural P.E.I., because we all know there's a huge appetite for building everywhere," he said.

Mitchell, who is from rural P.E.I, said while there's a need for more housing, he also likes the idea of preserving farmland and green spaces.He thinks with some good planning, the province can doboth.

"There's a need everywhere, and the biggest thing is to make sure all communities have the ability to grow at the same time."