City of Windsor on Track to Surpass Housing Targets

As of August 14, 2024, the City of Windsor says it has successfully initiated 924 housing starts, or 85% out of the province’s target of 1,083 for the year. Officials say this puts the City in a strong position to receive provincial funding through the Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities that meet or exceed 80% of their annual housing targets. Windsor’s continued focus on housing development, combined with strategic efforts to streamline and modernize development processes, has positioned the City to meet this year’s target and the overall goal to build 13,000 new homes by 2031.

Mayor Dilkens and City Council have endorsed the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan – a comprehensive, strategic, and balanced approach aimed at increasing the supply of housing and meeting housing targets at an accelerated pace. This includes opening municipal lands ready for development, a vacant home tax to boost the availability of the current housing stock, and official plan amendments to focus intensification on key areas along major thoroughfares and transit routes.

“Nearly accomplishing our 2024 housing starts target by mid-August is a testament to Windsor’s proactive local approach to housing development. We are committed to Building Windsor’s Future and finding sensible Housing Solutions Made for Windsor to respond to unprecedented economic growth and provide housing options that respect the diverse needs of our residents, neighbourhoods, and broader community.” – Mayor Drew Dilkens

The City’s Building and Planning departments have implemented several innovative measures to enhance efficiency, including the creation of a specialized Development Application Coordinator team to serve as a single point of contact for customers throughout the development application process. This initiative has significantly improved permit processing times and reduced application backlogs, fostering a more responsive and efficient service experience.

Furthermore, the City has leveraged the Streamline Development Approval Fund provided by the Province, allowing the City to digitize records, modernize technology platforms, and review policies that support housing intensification and address legislative changes.

This total modernization effort has resulted in the City of Windsor being a leader among Ontario municipalities in issuing planning approvals, with the average application taking less than six months.

This streamlining has supported increased permit and planning approvals. As of August 2024, the City has issued permits and given planning approvals for an additional 2,582 new residential units.

The Piroli Group’s latest residential project, Viridian Place – a 136-unit rental apartment complex in the Forest Glade neighbourhood – is a key part of this effort. Slated for occupancy in fall 2025, this development will offer a variety of layouts for young professionals and retirees alike. The amenities will include an outdoor saltwater pool, a fitness centre, and a party room for residents to utilize. Additionally, a portion of the units are designated as affordable housing, further contributing to Windsor’s housing objectives.

As of August 14, 2024, the following number of residential units have been approved or are under review:

• Land Use Permissions: 1,377 residential units have been approved through Zoning By-Law Amendment applications, with a further 294 units currently under review.
• Site Plan Control Applications: 570 residential units have been approved through Site Plan Control applications, with a further 41 units currently under review.
• Planning Approvals: 581 residential units have been approved through a planning process and are ready to proceed to building permitting.
• A 2023 survey of timelines for planning approvals (Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-laws, Site Plan, Plans for Condominiums and Subdivisions) in other Ontario municipalities found that the average timeline to review each type of application ranged from one to two years. In all categories, the City of Windsor Planning Department processed these applications in less than six months.