Okotoks council OKs 42 tiny residences in plan’s initial phase
Town sees project as boost to affordability while cutting environmental footprint
A tiny home eco-village being built in Okotoks will increase affordable housing and reduce the town’s environmental footprint.
Okotoks town council approved the development of the first phase of the eco-village Monday with a vote of 5-2. Phase 1 includes 42 affordable-rental units, market-rate rentals, short-term vacation rental units and homes for purchase, scheduled to be built by 2021.
“It’s pretty groundbreaking for this region, certainly for the Town of Okotoks, and it’s one step closer to meeting our affordable-housing goals,” Mayor Bill Robertson said Tuesday.
In February, town council approved the conceptual design for the Homestead project. Now that the project is approved, a 50-year lease agreement with Realize Communities is being drawn up by city administration to outline clauses ensuring the town retains ownership of the land, taxpayers won’t be on the hook for financial obligations not met by the lease and profits will be reinvested into the village or Okotoks community. Realize Communities will be responsible for developing and managing the eco-village.
“Success would be, within the first build-out by 2021, all 42 places would be fully occupied,” said Robertson.
The rollout for the next two phases will take place over the next decade as the whole four-hectare parcel of land in the D’Arcy development is dedicated to this project.
Coun. Tanya Thorn is one of the two dissenters of the Homestead project because she believes there are better ways to achieve affordable-housing goals without having taxpayers take on the $4.26-million price tag.
“I think it’s the wrong decision for our community right now,” said Thorn.
“I’m a proponent of tiny home development and I believe there’s a place for that in communities ... But I think for Okotoks and municipal governments in general, to do innovation to move us forward in these things it has to be with projects that can be duplicated by the private industry.
“I don’t see how this will be duplicatable.”
The village will be equipped with solar panels, personal gardens and a community garden to reduce residents’ environmental footprint. The energy-efficient homes should also reduce water consumption, gas and electrical usage, as the homes are only about 350 to 550 square feet.
“Okotoks has become known as a green community, very environmentally sustainable, and this is one more piece to that puzzle,” said Robertson.
The town will be turning to the community to advance a strategy for active participation and selecting a formal name for the eco-village.