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For those looking to the ‘missing middle’ of housing options, Penetanguishene might be a place to consider.
Along with the fourth quarter development report for 2023, a year-in-review summary was included at a recent committee of the whole meeting, which provided the broader picture for Penetanguishene council and residents.
Through 2023, 185 total building permits were issued which was an increase over the 2022 amount of 161 overall. The construction value of the 2023 permits amounted to $17.6 million for the past year.
Planning and community development director Andrea Betty noted that 2022 was a busy year for issuing permits, but the construction, inspections and work carried forward into 2023 and that the construction value may not convey that reflection.
“We highlight the 10-year development history,” said Betty, “and the trends are continuing that we’re seeing a lot of development interest in this town.”
Betty gave an explanation of what the town should be striving toward regarding land supply as per the Provincial Policy Statement, specific to lands undergoing draft approval or for those available.
“I did some calculations based on the number of development applications we’ve seen come forward over the past year, as well as those that got approved and the building permits,” said Betty. “Generally on the trend we’ve been on the past couple of years, we’re issuing about 50 new dwelling permits per year; with that, based on what we have available in residential supply lands, that’s just over three years.
“If that development trend continues, we’re going to see a lot more development applications move through the process to get lands to ‘shovel-ready’ and be able to build houses that everybody talks about.”
Within the report, 766 development applications were made in 2023 for residential lots breaking down into 402 for townhouse, 310 for single, 50 for apartments, and 4 semi-detached.
“The big number there is how the development is trending more towards townhouses and apartments; historically, the municipality has been a very low-density single-detached type of form. The development applications we’re seeing now are more of that middle-density or ‘the missing middle’ as some might even call it,” said Betty, calling the residential development trends “interesting.”
“I wish I could say that we’re still seeing some commercial, industrial or institutional development. There are some minor things happening there, but for the most part our development is related to residential growth,” Betty stated.
Another element Betty discussed at the meeting included a pre-consultation process instituted in 2023 amounting to roughly five per cent of staff time. Coun. Suzanne Marchand asked Betty if there were benefits or advantages by having any questions or concerns addressed prior to formal applications being submitted.
“Absolutely, I think it’s a beneficial process,” responded Betty. “We’ve seen that the development community expects this is part of the process of getting an application submitted to the town. It is a benefit to them to be able to have that conversation and up-front discussion before they finalize any reports or work that’s happening.”
Betty referenced the 45 pre-consultation meetings held in 2023 on potential development applications which ranged from new plans of subdivision, commercial developments, and applications for rezoning, consent, and minor variance.
“It’s kind of surprising to see how many we do over the course of the year, and how many actually result in applications, so there is definitely a benefit with it,” Betty concluded.
Information on planning and development within Penetanguishene can be found on the town’s website.
The 2023 year-in-review planning and community development department report can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.
Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53 when available, or on the Rogers TV website.
Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
