Housing Accelerator Fund

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We've received funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Government of Canada. Sylvan Lake will receive $5,485,430 to address housing affordability and challenges within our community. As this project evolves, we'll post details as we begin work on each part of the action plan.

Great! What does this mean?

By receiving the HAF Funding, the Town has committed to implementing the approved Action Plan that includes seven initiatives that will help build more homes faster in Sylvan Lake. The Action Plan’s initiatives include:

We've received funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Government of Canada. Sylvan Lake will receive $5,485,430 to address housing affordability and challenges within our community. As this project evolves, we'll post details as we begin work on each part of the action plan.

Great! What does this mean?

By receiving the HAF Funding, the Town has committed to implementing the approved Action Plan that includes seven initiatives that will help build more homes faster in Sylvan Lake. The Action Plan’s initiatives include:

  • Providing financial incentives for targeted housing types
  • Streamlining application processes
  • Amending the Land Use Bylaw to increase opportunities for the development of secondary suites
  • Replacing direct control districts supporting diverse types of housing development in our downtown.

What is the Action Plan?

The Action Plan has seven proposed initiatives and a rough timeline:

  1. New permitting software: to support digital processes and streamlined application processes
  2. Direct Control Rezoning: Council approved replacing the Waterfront Direct Control District and DC-50 with standardized land use districts that provide applicants with clear regulations and greater approval certainty
  3. Apartment Incentive Program: intended to support the development of new apartment projects by refunding permit fees to developers making their projects more financially feasible. Applications are accepted from July 9, 2024 - January 10, 2027
  4. Amendments to the Land Use Bylaw: supporting more opportunities for secondary suite development
  5. Secondary Suite Loan Program: provide interest free loans to qualified applicants to construct secondary suites in new or existing dwellings
  6. Multi-Family Tax Grant Program: offers a municipal tax exemption grant for "missing middle" housing (attached housing types)
  7. Dollars for Doors Program: providing a grant accessible to non-profit housing providers and private sector developers for each affordable unit built
  8. Reduced Parking Standards: lowers the minimum parking requirements for new apartment type housing developments

When?

Learn about the project

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  • Share Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood. Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections. Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking? Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space? How is this being monitored? on Facebook Share Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood. Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections. Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking? Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space? How is this being monitored? on Twitter Share Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood. Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections. Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking? Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space? How is this being monitored? on Linkedin Email Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood. Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections. Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking? Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space? How is this being monitored? link

    Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood. Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections. Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking? Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space? How is this being monitored?

    DawMac asked 11 months ago

    Hi DawMac, 

    Thanks for asking these great questions.  

    Has the town developed an up to date system and ONE map to indicate all activity (adjustments) on a street? One that would show (grand fathered in) secondary suites with no hard parking surface prior to 2014, standard secondary suites, businesses and vacation rentals. A complete picture of a neighbour hood.  Is it possible to categorize and label to get a clear picture. An example would be A street has nothing, B street is moderate and C is at capacity. A larger street would have to be split in sections.
    Unfortunately, we do not currently have the capability to create one map that can show this level of detailed information. However, the Town has a secondary suite map showing all approved properties with a secondary suite. The Land Use Bylaw 1695/2015 requires a property with a secondary suite to have 3 onsite hard surfaced parking spaces to get approved. As you have pointed out, there are some properties that were approved for a secondary suite under a previous version of the Land Use Bylaw. These properties did not require parking spaces to be hard surfaced at that time. They are considered legal but non-conforming, or grandfathered in.   


    Also, what is the plan if secondary suites and homes in general have been established without hard surface parking?  
    It is currently required for secondary suite applications to meet the LUB requirement for 3 onsite hard surfaced parking spaces. Not all homes require hard surfaced parking spaces. See LUB section 7.38 for the current regulations regarding parking. A grandfathered secondary suite is not required to hard surface their parking until the property is redeveloped. Any secondary suite approved after 2015 was required to hard surface their parking.  


    Over time the parking space becomes a mud hole with snow and rain, over grown, and becomes unusable. Does the town implement an order to remedy and grade the parking space?
    Please see number 2.   


    How is this being monitored?  
    A property that was approved for a secondary suite under the current Land Use Bylaw 1695/2015 requires hard surfaced parking. This is monitored at the development permit stage. A final inspection is required to ensure the applicant has provided the required hard surfaced parking spaces. Also, any new dwelling constructed on a property must meet the parking requirement of the Land Use Bylaw. This is monitored through the permitting process.  


    Please feel free to post another question!

    Sincerely,
    Trina Lamanes
    Senior Planner, Planning & Development


     

Page last updated: 12 May 2025, 09:19 AM