In May, the option of building “tiny homes” in Hastings Highlands was discussed during council. On Wednesday, members of council again talked about the idea of allowing the smaller, but more affordable, housing option in the municipality.
Deputy Mayor Tracy Hagar introduced a motion during council that would see the land a tiny home can be built on expanded. She explains that many in the area many to leave less of a footprint and take on less of a financial burden. “Tiny homes, I feel, is a solution that can meet those needs,” she says. She describes her motion as more of an addition to give potential tiny home builders more options and zones for people to build in.
The so-called “tiny homes” must be a minimum of 350 square feet, but can be as big as 850. It was noted by Mayor Vic Bodnar that they also have to be built on a parcel of land that’s around 10 acres. “We think that’s a little extravagant,” he says. Council spoke about lowering that.
“For people to actually live in an area that small – especially with the environment we have – may not be practical,” Bodnar says. “We’re doing an investigation now and we’re going to figure out what designs work and what we can do to accommodate whatever is necessary when it comes to the interior of it.”
Bodnar says that since talks started about tiny homes, the municipality has gotten lots of positive feedback from the community.