Okotoks may get housing help

By John Barlow
Editor

Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine is hopeful Okotoks will receive funding for affordable housing.

The Town of Okotoks is hoping the province does not ignore its desperate need for affordable housing this time around.
In the spring the provincial government announced funding for affordable housing projects in communities throughout Alberta. Despite being one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Okotoks was left off that list. According to the latest federal census, Okotoks’ population increased by 47 per cent in the last five years from 11,664 to 17,145 making it the second fastest growing urban municipality in Canada.
The provincial government allocated $285 million for affordable housing in Alberta, but the Okotoks town council was extremely disappointed that it was left off the list of eligible communities.
However, that situation may be adjusted.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced last week the affordable housing program is being reviewed by Minister of Housing Ray Danyluk.
“The program is being revisited,” said Stelmach in a telephone interview. “We will be coming up with different allocations and we will revisit the affordable housing envelope and see how we can spread that money out to more municipalities.”
The previous program which was unveiled in April was divided into category one ($143 million) and category two ($85 million), and was targeted to high-growth, high-need municipalities to help ease growth pressures.
Okotoks, with a population of now close to 19,000 residents, did not qualify while other towns, such as High River Airdrie and Banff, were on the list.
Okotoks administration was not pleased the town was excluded from the program.
“I don’t know how we did not qualify,” said Okotoks municipal manager Rick Quail in April. “This doesn’t make any sense. We are disappointed, but we are trying to figure this out.”
It appears Okotoks was not the only municipality displeased with the funding.
As a result of the concerns raised by the municipalities, Danyluk met with municipal councils across the province and he expected to submit the results of those meetings to the premier on Aug. 16.
Previously, in order to qualify for category one funding, municipalities had to demonstrate the following three criteria: population growth over 2.79 per cent (calculated on a three-year rolling average), vacancy rate under the provincial average of 1.7 per cent and average rental rate for a two-bedroom unit over the provincial average of $620.
Fourteen communities across the province were on the list to receive funding in category one, including Airdrie, Spruce Grove, Beaumont and Edson.
Category two funding requirements were the same as category one, however, municipalities must demonstrate only two of the three criteria.
On the list of municipalities from southern Alberta for category two funding were Cochrane, Canmore, Banff, Medicine Hat and High River, which is slated to receive close to $400,000.
Another $68 million was made available to other communities if they can identify a substantial need and have a suitable project.
Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine said council and administration has met with Danyluk and he is hopeful the program review will result in needed funding for Okotoks.
“The province has responded to our situation,” said McAlpine. “We have to have housing that will give young people the opportunity to stay in the community or give young people the opportunity to purchase a home. Even empty nesters need something so they can downsize and seniors cannot find housing so they are moving to places like Claresholm.”
Although McAlpine is optimistic the provincial review will be positive for Okotoks, it does present another problem for the town. If the town were to receive funding to build affordable housing where would it go?
The town is committed to a build out population of 30,000 and there are no plans to annex any additional land. The land already within town boundaries has already been committed to residential single detached homes.
McAlpine said the town would have to enter negotiations with developers to free up some land for a mix of housing developments to include affordable housing initiatives such as townhouses.

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