Saugeen Shores is looking for input on its new pre-approved housing designs.
It has a survey online until May 9th.
The Town has a web page dedicated to the project. It explains back in 2024, Saugeen Shores received federal Housing Accelerator Funding as well as Bruce Power SEED Funding to launch a pre-approved housing design program.
“It’s intended to be used for affordable housing,” explains Mayor Luke Charbonneau. The designs include small cottages for ‘additional residential units’ and an above the garage loft residential unit as well as duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.
The Town worked with Invizij Architects and Tim Welch Consulting, to develop preliminary designs.
They’ll be pre-approved with final renderings, floor plan layouts and other details.
The additional residential units are around 550sq ft. The duplexes are over 1,700 sq ft per floor. They have a slightly coastal or craftsman look to them. The pre-approved options available don’t include large single family homes, and Charbonneau explains, “The town doesn’t need to get involved in designing single family homes, our whole purpose for doing this is to encourage affordable housing.”
The idea is to offer a head start for builders, homeowners and municipalities in their planning review.
The Town adds, “By focusing on these key components, the pre-approved designs will ensure compatibility with the Town’s character and small-town feel, while adhering to the Town’s Zoning By-law regulations and accommodating the lot sizes mapped throughout Saugeen Shores. This approach not only preserves the community’s character but also removes barriers from the development process, streamlining development review timelines.”
In the frequently asked questions section of the website, the Town explains, “These designs have already been reviewed for compliance with the Ontario Building Code, helping to reduce the need for custom design work and associated engineering costs. As these designs are ready-to-go and meet regulatory requirements, they can significantly shorten the development approvals process. This helps streamline your proposal, minimizes delays, and supports a more efficient path from planning to construction.”
The Town says it has approved about 60 additional residential units over the past number of years, mostly additions to properties or basement apartments so far.
After the survey is done, the designs will be presented to council sometime this summer, and the toolkit is due to launch this summer as well.
Image from Saugeen Shores website
