The City of Steinbach is working to make housing more affordable by allowing more apartment buildings and multi-unity homes to be built through rezoning decisions.
At a recent city council meeting, Mayor Earl Funk suggested that it could work well for Steinbach to grow outward as well as upward. Constructing taller buildings to make better use of land while also encouraging more development toward the outer areas of the city.
From a residential point of view, Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra says high demand for housing in Steinbach is contributing to rising home prices, and one way to address the issue is by allowing more multifamily developments.
Rezoning applications approved
City council has approved a number of rezoning applications that allow lots originally zoned for low-density housing to be converted into medium-density residential properties. This change allows for more duplexes, triplexes, and apartment buildings to be built in areas previously reserved for single-family homes.
"One way to look at it is simply supply and demand," says Zwaagstra. "If you have a limited supply of something, in this case housing, and you have a lot of demand, then prices are going to go up. And so one of the best ways to address housing affordability is to have more housing available, both single family and multifamily."
Zwaagstra says that while the city is open to allowing more multifamily development, each rezoning request goes through a public hearing and is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Council considers community feedback and whether the project fits the surrounding neighbourhood before making a final decision.
Residential growth sets new record
In 2024, Steinbach set a new record for residential growth, issuing building permits for 344 new dwelling units. The permits included 89 single-family and two-family homes and 255 multi-family units. The total residential permit value reached $77 million.
"The more houses that get built in Steinbach and the more multifamily in particular that gets built, the more it relieves the pressure and provides more supply and then has a positive impact on housing prices and makes things more affordable," Zwaagstra says.
More public hearings expected
Steinbach residents can expect to hear more about applications and public hearings related to rezoning in the coming months. Zwaagstra says expanding multifamily housing opportunities will remain an important part of Steinbach’s strategy to respond to housing demand.