Belleville Council has supported a motion by Councillor Paul Carr asking staff to conduct an intensification review that includes allowing fourplexes on residential property.
Currently the maximum number of housing units allowed on a property is three.
Carr says with the city growing at a breakneck pace, something must be done to address a lack of housing.
“Do some stakeholder consultation with home builders or non-profit groups as well as the community at large to not be alarmed by the concept of fourplexes and that these won’t suddenly take over your neighbourhood so to speak. And I think it’s a measured way to get where we need to be.”
And while he understands some residents may have concerns about how these buildings might look, Carr says many current fourplexes are designed to blend in and are the same height as a two-storey house.
Councillor Chris Malette agreed with the motion and questioned why the premier wouldn’t go for the idea as he’s never seen a fourlex ruin a neighbourhood.
Councillor Garnet Thompson said he’d like to see five or six units allowed.
Belleville’s Director of Engineering and Development Services, Stephen Ashton said higher numbers of units could pose issues with lot sizes or parking but all options would be considered during their intensification studies.
The federal government has offered provinces more housing money to adopt a policy allowing four units, though Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently stated he would not force municipalities into the policy.
