CBRM unveils catalogue of pre-approved housing designs to help spark development

Cape Breton Regional Municipality has created a catalogue of pre-approved housing plans that are free for residents and are expected to speed up the building permit process.

CBRM unveiled the 15 different plans, called fast-tracked housing designs, on Monday in front of city hall.

Spokesperson Jenna MacQueen said there was lots of public interest in the plans, which were paid for as part of an $11.4-million grant from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund.

"Some people are very excited. Some people are saying, 'I can't believe this hasn't happened sooner.' There's some people that are even from different municipalities that are looking to build here because they were shocked that this was being done here," she said.

MacQueen said the plans are pre-approved for building permits because they meet building code requirements and were created in consultation with CBRM staff and home builders.

That could shave six months or more off the total process, she said.

'Reducing housing barriers'

Many of the 15 designs will fit on an average-sized lot in CBRM, but they range from a 435-square-foot backyard suite to a six-unit multiplex, MacQueen said.

"What we're doing is making sure that we're reducing barriers to make sure that people can build housing here in the CBRM," she said.

More than half of the federal housing grant has been dedicated to Cape Breton University's Tartan Downs housing project and the Cossitt Heights subdivision that's already being built by Joneljim Construction.

The rest is paying for a new online permitting system, grants for the development of new affordable housing units, a parking study, staff housing co-ordinator and an overall housing strategy.

MacQueen said the Housing Accelerator Fund, which is administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, also supports tax breaks for affordable housing, but CBRM has decided to forego the tax revenue on its own in order to direct the federal funds to the other initiatives.

The fast-tracked housing designs are available on CBRM's website.