Brome-missisquoi’s Housing Toolbox highlighted for its innovation in urban planning projects

The Relève en urbanisme (RU) of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec released their 2020 compilation of innovative urban planning projects and the MRC of Brome-missisquoi’s Housing Toolbox was one of the eight projects selected. This compilation aims to promote good practices across the province and inspire urban planning professionals to innovate in their field.

As outlined in the press release, the main objective of the Housing Toolbox for Dynamic and Innovative Living Environments is to offer support in terms of territorial development and to aid municipalities in the implementation of effective housing means and strategies, while respecting differences.

This dynamic and informative tool is comprised of two parts: to invite municipalities to adopt a housing strategy using a six-step process and to propose inspiring and innovative ideas, examples of partnerships, case studies from here and elsewhere.

This guide also offers a series of resources to support municipalities in matters of citizen consultation, adapted densification, financing and access to housing.

The 2020 theme of the compilation, the levers for the reorganization of a city, consisted in highlighting the projects which have temporarily or permanently transformed the procedures, the territory or even pushed back the barriers to meet local challenges.

The MRC guide was highlighted because it is an unprecedented project which, among other things, puts the population at the heart of the process.

“This tool is all the more relevant as it now offers the support that may often be lacking in certain municipalities having to deal with migratory flows,” mentioned the selection committee.

Consult the Housing Toolbox for Dynamic and Innovative Living Environments, available in French only, to learn more about the project at https://mrcbm.qc.ca/common/ documentscontenu/mrc_bm_guide_ Final_web.pdf.