Politics
Thomastown Mayor Updates Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, Aligning Local Requirements With Peer Municipalities
Thomastown property owners and developers will encounter new affordable unit thresholds in projects of 10 units or more beginning with the next permitting cycle.
How we reported this
The mayor presented revisions to the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance at the July 7 city council session. Under the changes, residential developments exceeding 10 units must reserve 12 percent of units for households earning up to 80 percent of area median income. Thomastown now matches the rate used in Oakville while exceeding the 8 percent level applied in Pinecrest.
The update follows release of the 2025 regional housing assessment, which recorded a 14 percent rise in rental costs over two years. Council documents note that the prior 10 percent requirement had produced fewer than 40 qualifying units since 2022, prompting staff to examine formulas in adjacent jurisdictions before drafting the amendment.
Effects on Thomastown Households and Builders
Residents applying for new apartments near the central business district will find a larger share of units reserved through the housing authority lottery. Homebuyers in subdivisions along Route 17 can expect deed-restricted units priced according to income tiers set by the ordinance. Developers must submit compliance plans to the planning department at the time of site plan review, including agreements for long-term affordability monitoring.
The 2026 municipal budget allocates $1.8 million to the housing division for program administration and monitoring, an amount drawn from the general fund and listed in the adopted appropriations ordinance. This sum covers two new staff positions and software for tracking unit occupancy across projects.
Schedule for Enforcement and Review
Planning staff will apply the 12 percent standard to applications received after August 1. The city projects completion of the first three qualifying projects by the second quarter of 2027. A public information session on the revised application forms is scheduled for the planning commission meeting on September 12.
City code requires an annual report to council each March that tallies units produced and compares output with Oakville and Pinecrest figures. Residents may submit comments on the report through the city clerk’s office before the March vote on any further adjustments.