A public process to build for the future that began in 2023 reached an important milestone on Monday, as Olds council formally approved the Town’s Housing Strategy.
Brent Williams, the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer, calls it a significant step as it is the first housing strategy the Town of Olds has ever had. He says “while the document itself is not going to produce more houses in Olds, I think it is the first time the Town has set a public direction in terms or what it expects or what it wants in terms of increasing our housing stock and increasing the affordability of living in Olds.”
He notes that housing is fundamental to everything they hope to do as an economy. Williams says “if people can’t afford to live in your community, they are not going to generally work in your community and that affects the businesses that can either set up or remain in your community because more population brings more workforce, it brings more customers, it brings more economic vibrancy and confidence. So we see the approximate 124 units we are able to add over the next decade or more as our target as fundamental to increasing our tax base, to decreasing the cost of home ownership or rentals and to make Olds a sustainable place, local government-wise and community-wise for the long term.”
Williams points out that the next steps are kicking off right away with the Land Use Bylaw review which began last week and the survey is open right now. He adds, they have upcoming open houses and other engagement throughout this summer on this L-U-B amendment and further in 2025 there will be more updates from the Town.
For more about the housing strategy go online to Olds.ca/housing. He says “people also at the same time, while they support housing they want to see responsible growth ensuring that roads and water and sanitary systems are able to handle that new growth. People, developers in particular, they want to see more efficiency in our planning department and permitting functions and people want to be kept informed.”
Also check out Olds.ca/LUB2025 to have your say on the Land Use Bylaw review.
