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9| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M arch 29,2018 theifp.ca IF ALL OF OUR KIDS AREN'T SMILING, NONE OF US SHOULD BE. For nearly two decades, Ontario's dentists have been providing free care for children from low-income families, but there is more to be done. Now is the time for the Government to step up their support so the Healthy Smiles Ontario program reaches every child in need. Ontario's dentists believe in the power of smiles. Visit ODA.ca/HealthySmiles The Town of Halton Hills is looking to sell some sur- plus land - but not just to anyone. The sale of the lands comes with a request for proposal that stipulates af- fordable housing must be built on the site, in an effort to create more possibilities for low to moderate income residents in a red-hot hous- ing market. "We would like to see a mixed-use development here," said Coun. Jane Fo- gal, during a planning and public works committee ses- sion where the report for an estimated 181 units would be built on the 4.8-acre parcel. The lands are located near the municipal build- ing, and it is expected a road would be built, called Halton Hills Drive. The lands, valued at $7.5 million, would be set to ac- commodate 25 medium den- sity homes, 84 medium to high-density homes, and 72 in the high-density category. "We will be seeking bids from the private sector," said John Lindhardt, the com- missioner of planning and sustainability with the town. "What it will actually be sold for remains to be seen." The town is using the province's definition for af- fordable housing, as set out in Ontario's growth plan. This means that the homes must cost around or under one third of a family's income or be at least 10 per cent lower than the average house value in the region. "This is a very rare oppor- tunity that we have to build some affordable housing," said Mayor Rick Bonette, noting that because the town owns the lands, they have the ability to influence the development. In the past years, other municipalities in Halton have far exceeded Halton Hills in building af- fordable housing. "The kind of housing that's available is well out of reach, to even moderate-in- come residents," said Coun. Ann Lawlor. "Affordability in Halton Hills is a signifi- cant problem." The committee heard from Pastor Ray Vander Kooij, of the Bethel Church in Acton. He is the chair of the Halton Hills Housing Taskforce, who are support- ing the move. "It's an opportunity to make a statement," he said, adding that this is a rare op- portunity for the town. "It hasn't been really economi- cally profitable to build pur- pose-built rentals." Fogal, who councillors commended for champion- ing the idea of turning the lands into affordable hous- ing, said it's the best way of keeping a healthy balance of people in the community. She said the housing will allow for not only younger and older residents to stay in the community, but those with lower incomes - as the cost and type of housing built in town continues to price families out of the mar- ket. "It's not subsidized hous- ing," she said, explaining that the developer will be selling the homes, which will be built to be geared for a lower cost. The request for proposal is set to go out this month and award the job by June. NEWS Halton Hills makes first step toward building affordable housing A map of the proposed affordable housing developments to be built near the municipal buildings. Halton Hills photo ALEXANDRA HECK aheck@metroland.com