The City of Chestermere is looking to add more affordable housing options by zoning smaller housing lots in a bid to attract a wider population base.
In April Chestermere city council passed an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw to allow for smaller single detached housing in future developments. With a recent change to the city’s growth plans, there may be more opportunities for a wider range of housing types, the city said in a news release.
Currently, most single family options begin in the $500,000 range and may be beyond the budget and needs for young couples, single professionals, empty-nesters and seniors, it added. The newer lots will increase affordability and allow for a more diverse population base.
While Chestermere is known for impressive houses on large lots, the city says it will maintain a “high quality” of character and appearance while adding to the availability of housing options in the community.
The changes were facilitated by the recent adoption of recent rezoning bylaws such as the Chelsea development plan. The city anticipates that the first development areas that could incorporate this housing option would be the new neighbourhoods being planned on the western edge of the community.
With Area Structure Plans recently approved and a number of Outline Plans currently in the review process, construction could begin in as little as two years., it said.
With the new developments, Mayor Patricia Matthews told the Anchor that the city is on track to nearly triple its population to around 65,000 people within the next decade. The rapid pace of growth is shaping up to be a major issue in this October’s elections.
“There are so many professional, retail, and commercial opportunities in Chestermere,” says Jean-Marc Lacasse, the City’s Economic Development Manager. “Adding a wider range of housing opportunities for the people who can work in these locations is another piece of the puzzle to create a diverse community with strong non-residential components.”
