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September 3 , 2004
St.
Albert needs a diversity
of housing
I’ve
heard some alarming
statements over the past couple of
years about the housing mix in St.
Albert - statements indicating that
affordable housing for St. Albert
is in north Edmonton or Morinville.
I could not possibly disagree more.
We are responsible for providing
a diverse mix of housing for our
citizens and must do so to remain
an independent and sustainable community
into the future.
I am hearing at the doors that
people are worried about their retirement,
and their ability to downsize their
housing and still remain in St. Albert.
And a diversity of housing is a concern
not only for our seniors, but also
for our young people who have to
leave our City because of a shortage
of rental accommodations or entry-level
housing.
It is clearly stated in our Municipal
Development Plan, the guiding document
providing direction for our City,
that we are an inclusive community.
This document also encourages innovation
and diversity in our housing. Unless
we can put some strategies in place
to start addressing these needs,
nothing is going to happen.
Recently, the Affordable Housing
Advisory Committee and a group of
consultants presented a strategic
plan to City Council dealing with
the affordable housing issue. Instead
of passing the recommendations and
moving forward with some action plans,
this study was sent back to the Committee
for further consideration. I am extremely
disappointed that this Council was
unable to be decisive, and progressive,
instead choosing to allow the next
City Council to start over in dealing
with the issue.
This issue
is not only a vital one for the
residents of our City, but also
for our community’s
abilities to attract
business. Many businesses offer
modest incomes to their employees
and unless we can provide these
employees with homes for their families,
businesses will be looking elsewhere
to locate, where there is an employee
pool from which to attract workers.
We are not a community where only
the wealthy are allowed to live.
We are an inclusive community that
welcomes people of all socio-economic
backgrounds. In our current population,
there is a significant group of residents
with moderate incomes. They love
this City, just as much as those
with high incomes do, and want to
raise their children in such a nurturing
environment. Other municipalities
in the Capital Region have recognized
the need for a diversity in housing,
and have responded to that need with
great success. Unfortunately, our
market share of residential housing
has dropped dramatically in the past
several years, due to a resistance
to change.
When I
am elected Mayor, I will encourage
the completion of the Land-Use Bylaw
review. This is critical to setting
the standards called for in our
Municipal Development Plan, and
demanded by the marketplace. Until
we start acting like the 5th largest
City in Alberta instead of like
a “bedroom community”,
our long-term independence
and sustainability will remain in
jeopardy.
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