Councillors voted 23 to 2 to use a new power called inclusionary zoning, which allows the city to compel developers to make five to 10 per cent of units affordable in new towers within 500 metres of major transit stations starting in September 2022.
The city says it’s developing a website for people to apply for an affordable unit, staff are considering a lottery system.
David Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association, told CBC Toronto that developers support inclusionary zoning, but think the costs should be shared.
The city’s chief planner, Gregg Lintern, said that’s because the city’s market analysis determined there wasn’t enough housing demand to justify inclusionary zoning in those neighbourhoods.
Other councillors, including Layton, pushed for the city to be more ambitious and mandate more affordable units from the start.