If affordable housing is the goal, innovative change must occur, it will not be achievable by perpetuating past behaviours or actions. 

People of all ages are affected by the current housing crisis. Most people cannot afford to buy their own homes. Additionally, many current homeowners need to downsize to remain financially stable to retain a good quality of life but are also finding they cannot afford to with the high-interest rates and housing market prices. However, movable tiny homes are attainable as they are affordable and are just as sustainable as a regular home. They also provide current homeowners an opportunity for extra rental income and as such economic growth and affordable housing stability for community members.

The current "Accessory Residential Unit" (ARU) bylaws in the Municipality of Port Hope permit a secondary dwelling in many zoning types, but currently, it only allows new builds and or construction, which comes with large fees, permits, and processing times. 

• However, a CSA-certified tiny house, recognized by the current Port Hope bylaws as a 'Mobile Home Dwelling' which needs to be CSA certified and permitted for a permanent dwelling is currently NOT included in the ARU bylaws of Port Hope. 
• As Tiny Homeowners in the town of Port Hope, we feel this is a large oversight and missed opportunity, as the "Mobile Home Dwelling" CSA certified bylaw is in fact the very definition of a Tiny Home on Wheels, and successfully defining that it is NOT a typical camper trailer. 

CSA-certified homes either on or off wheels are built to Canadian building standards, and require an engineer to review and approve these building plans prior to the home being built.

• In the case of Tiny Homes on Wheels, if you request your home to be built to CSA certification standards this does come at a higher cost, but it ensures any community you take your home to that it is safe and built to Canadian building regulations. 
• In addition, these homes are manufactured to completion to simply place the safe and regulated Tiny Home on Wheels on-site at a property, therefore, a Tiny Home on Wheels is not being built on the property it will be parked on; therefore it should not require a "Building Permit" for a CSA-certified Tiny Home to be permitted. 
• However, the "building permit" process is required and outlined in the current ARU bylaws in Port Hope, because the current ARU bylaws are only outlining new builds or new construction on a property.

Currently, there is also a required "Planning Review" process where the Municipality of Port Hope states this process is needed for the following reasons: "Submit a planning review form and site plan for staff to verify if ARU proposal meets Port Hope’s zoning standards. This process can take up to 10 business days with a complete application, however, comments from planning staff and outside agencies can delay the process."  

• However, all zonings are already clearly listed that are or are not allowed to have an ARU on the Municipality of Port Hope's website, so why are these fees and processes for verification of zoning requirements needed that only inhibit community members to have affordable housing or rental income options?
• In fact, this complete list of approved zonings happens to be on the same webpage outlining the need for the "building permit" and "planning review", which again comes with large fees, permits, and processing times; and also stated above can be delayed and may require outside agencies to be involved with no explanation as to who or why. 

Affordable home ownership and extra rental income are possible for the community members of Port Hope with Tiny Homes on Wheels because the Municipality of Port Hope has already laid the foundation for this with their existing two separate bylaws of the ARUs and "Mobile Home Dwelling" CSA certified. They simply need to join these two already-created innovative bylaw initiatives together and eliminate the unnecessary fees and processes that only pertain to new builds and construction on a property.

• Moreover, the Municipality of Port Hope will become a leader and an amazing example of affordable housing initiatives within our province and the Country overall.

We have submitted our proposal along with our full presentation to present at the next council meeting Tuesday, August 1st to achieve the following: 

• "Council to consider tabling a motion to amend the current definition of ARUs and associated bylaws with the addition of existing bylaws of either “Mobile Home Dwelling” or “Mobile Home” both CSA certified, and this addition to not be subject to the current ARU “Planning Review” and “Building Permit” bylaw process as these homes are already built to completion by manufacturers, and in effort to remain an affordable housing initiative; and for this tabling of motion to be considered at the next scheduled Council meeting."

By signing & sharing this petition this small action will be supporting the change you want to see the council make to help the affordable housing crisis in this Municipality, and if we are successful put Port Hope on the map as top thought leaders in combating the affordable housing crisis. 

All residents of Port Hope Ontario & Canada are welcome to participate!

Sincerely, 

Lindsay & Jess Watt