An update on Red Deer’s Housing Accelerator Fund 2 (HAF2) project and public engagement will be presented to City Council on Monday. The information report outlines current progress, preliminary public feedback, and the federal funding conditions tied to the $12 million grant.
More than 1,100 residents have participated in workshops and online engagement since May. While there is strong support for increasing housing options, early findings show significant public opposition to a city-wide “four units as-of-right” zoning approach. Concerns include parking, neighbourhood compatibility, infrastructure capacity, and the lack of public input that would be required for future development if the zoning change proceeds.
“This mid-project update ensures Council is aware of the strong public interest in this initiative,” said Tara Shand, Manager of Community and Public Relations. “While many residents want more housing options, they are also voicing significant concerns about how this particular zoning approach would affect neighbourhoods.”
“This project is just one piece of the larger work we need to do to address housing challenges in Red Deer,” said David Girardin, Senior Manager of Growth and Planning. “The Housing Accelerator Fund is designed to remove barriers and speed up the delivery of new homes, but we know four units as-of-right isn’t the only solution. There are many tools and approaches to increase housing supply and ensure Red Deerians have access to a range of housing options that meet community needs.”
The report does not ask Council to make any zoning decisions; however, Administration felt a mid-project update was important because City Council initiated this work and continues to play an active role in its oversight. We are gathering input and Council needs to be aware of what we are hearing.
“While today’s summary is a preliminary snapshot, we have committed to preparing a comprehensive final report that validates our findings and sharing it with participants, the broader community, and City Council. Residents have entrusted us with their input, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said Shand.
The full report is available online at redder.ca as part of the published Council agenda.
For more information about the Housing Accelerator Fund and engagement process, visit www.reddeer.ca/HAF2.