The Town of Drumheller is looking to develop a housing strategy and is asking residents to fill out an online survey to help identify gaps and barriers, priorities, and ideas to help meet the housing needs of all residents in the community.
Along with the online survey, there are also two public engagement opportunities scheduled for Tuesday, July 26 in Midland and Wednesday, July 27 in Rosedale between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
“We want feedback from the community to understand where we are now and where we should go,” says Economic Development manager Reg Johnston. “We want (the community) involved in the process.”
Mr. Johnston notes other surveys have been completed with employees at the Drumheller Institution and Alberta Health Services, along with council and the real estate market. These surveys confirmed two concerns-a limited short term rental market, and affordability concerns.
He adds the Residential Development Incentive Program, which offers property tax exemptions on new, eligible developments, is already available, and Mr. Johnston is hopeful this will spur some new developments in the community.
Under the program, eligible developments may include single family detached residences, attached or unattached town or row houses listed between $180,000 and $350,000, as well as multi-unit residential rental properties with between four and 16 units rented for less than $950 per month may qualify for these incentives.
The Drumheller Housing Strategy survey will be open until Sunday, August 14, with information from the survey and public engagements compiled by consultants.
An interim report will come forward in September. The full strategy is expected in December, pending further housing data from the Stats Canada Census in the fall.
