Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan

About the funding

On March 3, 2025, the Government of Canada and the Town of Georgina announced that they had reached an agreement under the second round of the Housing Accelerator Fund. The Town will receive $5.8 million to eliminate barriers and accelerate the creation of 210 new housing units above the Town average over the next three years. 

The Action Plan

Initiative 1 Permit four residential units per lot
Status: ongoing Initiative 2 Partner to build affordable housing
Status: ongoing Initiative 3 Launch development tracking system
Status: ongoing Initiative 4 Expand staff authority on approvals
Status: ongoing Initiative 5 Fast-track reviews for priority housing
Status: ongoing Initiative 6 Lower fees for affordable/rental housing
Status: ongoing Initiative 7 Update zoning to allow ADUs
Status: ongoing Initiative 8 Create ADU incentive program
Status: ongoing Initiative 9 Conduct housing needs assessment
Status: complete

Initiative 1: Allow four units as-of-right per residential lot to support infill development in Georgina’s urban and serviced settlement areas

Milestones

  1. Develop proposed zoning b-law change including map of applicable areas
  2. Hold public meetings/community consultation period
  3. Council endorsement of update to the zoning bylaw to allow four units as-of-right in urban area

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 2: Partner and collaborate on affordable housing construction

Milestones

  1. Develop and launch Expression of Interest process for the construction of affordable housing
  2. Conduct review of submissions and select partner(s) to use incentive funding to develop affordable housing in Georgina
  3. Connect partner(s) to ongoing support

Project updates

Visit the Affordable Housing in Georgina webpage to learn more

Initiative 3: Implement Development Tracking System to streamline development approvals process

Milestones

  1. Establish project team
  2. Develop and customize Development Tracking System
  3. Launch and training for internal staff and external users (ie. developers)

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 4: Expand delegation of authority to staff over certain development approvals

Milestones

  1. Initiate Official Plan Amendment
  2. Draft delegated authority recommendations (e.g. holding provisions, temporary use bylaws, minor zoning bylaw amendments, etc.)
  3. Hold public meetings/community consultation period
  4. Obtain Council approval

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 5: Implement process to fast-track development and building permit reviews for priority housing types

Milestones

  1. Implement pre-submission process to fast-track approvals process for affordable housing and purpose-built rental developments
  2. Implement post-submission process to fast-track approvals process for affordable housing and purpose-built rental developments

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 6: Reduce development charges and development-related application fees for affordable and/or rental housing

Milestones

  1. Complete the development charges (DC) review and get Council approval
  2. Communicate DC reduction to affordable and/or rental housing developers
  3. Complete the application fee review and get Council approval
  4. Communicate fee reduction to affordable and/or rental housing developers

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 7: Update Comprehensive Town Zoning Bylaw to permit Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Milestones

  1. Review Town Zoning Bylaw and bylaws restricting the permitting of ADUs
  2. Council approval of update to the comprehensive zoning bylaw to permit ADUs
  3. Promote updates to encourage residents to construct ADUs

This initiative will work in tandem with Initiative 8.

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 8: Develop and administer incentive program for Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Milestones

  1. Develop program framework and work plan
  2. Council approval of program
  3. Formal launch of pilot program, including execution of implementation and communications plan – expected November 2025

Relevant details and updates will be shared as they become available

Initiative 9: Housing Needs Assessment

Refer to webpage about Housing Needs Assessment 

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about the project? Contact service@georgina.ca 

Contact Us

26557 Civic Centre Rd,
Keswick, ON  L4P 3G1

T: 905-476-4301 / 705-437-2210
F: 905-476-8100
info@georgina.ca

Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.