The County of St. Paul received a detailed presentation on May 12 outlining a new regional housing strategy aimed at addressing housing shortages, affordability pressures and long-term growth challenges across the region.

Representatives from ISL Engineering and Land Services presented the St. Paul Regional Housing Strategy, which has been developed through consultations with municipalities, councils, administrators, and community members.

The strategy identifies four major policy areas:

• expanding wraparound and supportive housing services
• diversifying housing supply while maintaining affordability
• supporting age-friendly communities
• increasing housing education and awareness

Consultants explained the strategy was built using census data, regional feedback and extensive engagement sessions held throughout 2025 and early 2026.

The final strategy contains 53 recommended actions designed to guide future regional housing decisions.

Consultants described the document as a long-term framework rather than a rigid plan.

Among the recommendations specifically highlighted for the County of St. Paul were:

• amending the Municipal Development Plan to support shared, modular and clustered housing
• exploring incentives to reduce permit fees or development charges
• encouraging new residential subdivision development

The consultants said those recommendations are intended to improve affordability for smaller households and encourage new housing growth in the region.

The strategy also includes a prioritization matrix that ranks actions based on cost, feasibility, and expected impact.

Consultants stressed that the framework is intended to evolve over time, depending on funding opportunities, staffing levels, private development interest, and changing regional needs.

Council asked whether adopting the strategy would legally bind future councils to all recommendations contained within the document.

ISL representatives clarified that the strategy is not a statutory planning document and instead serves as guidance and reference material for future housing decisions.

Administration and consultants also encouraged municipalities to regularly review and update the strategy, especially once the 2026 federal census data becomes available.

Consultants warned that non-statutory plans can sometimes be forgotten unless councils intentionally revisit them through regular reporting and discussion.

Council ultimately voted to accept the housing strategy presentation for information.