Fredericton takes step to allow 'workforce housing' in commercial strips

Fredericton may soon allow what it calls "workforce housing" on commercial properties in a bid to help address housing affordability and car-free living.

The zoning allowance would initially be available in an area around Bishop Drive and Prospect Street and at St. Mary's Street and Two Nations Crossing.

It would allow residential housing to be built on commercial strips near amenities such as grocery stores, schools, and some places of employment and give people access to more transit and active transportation-friendly living.

The proposed amendments to the municipal plan and zoning bylaw, presented to city council Monday night, grew out of Fredericton's affordable housing strategy adopted in 2022.

The changes passed unanimously at first and second reading and must still be approved with a later vote, but councillors are already positive about what it might bring.

Coun. Jocelyn Pike, whose ward includes St. Mary's Street and Two Nations Crossing, called it a win-win.

"We want to keep people where the work is, we want to cut down on emissions, we want to be able to make our communities affordable," Pike said in an interview after the meeting.

St. Mary's Street recently saw sidewalk upgrades and it also has a major bus route, she said. The new zoning type will come with a stipulation that bike parking is required.

"It's helping residents with affordability as well," Pike said. "Because if you can reduce those costs of transportation, that's going to be a bonus to everybody, to every family."

"It's affordability by design and affordability by placement," said Coun. Ruth Breen, whose ward includes Bishop Drive and Prospect Street. "It's a really new and unique concept we're excited about.

"It's a wonderful tool in the overall range of things we're going to be doing to help housing affordability in the city," she said.

Ken Forrest, city director of planning, told council that workforce housing is "quite an important piece" of Fredericton's affordable housing strategy.

"This is all part of the city's strategy to try and coax out more affordable housing in parts of the city where we have good access to infrastructure, good access to amenities, and give people the opportunity to live a more car-free lifestyle," Forrest said.

He added that workforce housing zoning may be expanded in the future, but he hopes to see developers take advantage of it in these two locations.