Overview

The Town of Hinton needs more housing for residents. However, much of the undeveloped land surrounding the Town is expensive to develop due to steep slopes, the cost of building new residential roads, and the needed installation of additional water, sewer, and storm pipe services.

As such, the most cost effective way of increasing housing options is to rezone lots within Town boundaries which already have road access and underground services. Therefore, the Town has initiated an infill strategy which aims to increase residential housing while limiting costs to the Town and its taxpayers.

Housing Survey Results

In 2024, the Town conducted a housing survey to determine how Hinton residents were housed. Respondents indicated that:

• 63% own and lived in their dwelling while over 21% rented on a longterm basis.
• 43% lived in a detached home, 17% lived in a manufactured/mobille home, and 8% lived in an apartment.
• 61% were employed and 15% were retired.
• About one third of respondent reported a household income of $80,000 to $120,000 while another third reported a household income of $120,000 to $300,000.
• Approximately half of respondents said their current housing met their needs; one third said their housing partially met their needs while almost 20% said it did not. Housing was too small, needed repairs, had heating/electricity issues, or the respondent wanted to buy their own home.
• Two thirds of respondents said that affordability was their main concern.
• Concerns identified with housing challenges in Hinton were affordability, lack of housing diversity, and presence of short-term rentals.
• Respondents recommended that more diverse housing options be supported, that municipal regulations are used to shape housing availability, and that affordability be addressed.

Infill Strategy

In an effort to increase housing availability, in spring 2025, the Town identified five undeveloped parcels of land within Town boundaries that could be rezoned and developed as residential properties. They are all accessed by paved road and have water, sewer, and power at their lot lines. These properties included:

• 180 Cheviot Drive
• 201 MacLeod Avenue
• 190 Maurer Drive
• 117 – 133 Rowan Street
• 143 Rowan Street

Information about the properties, their locations, proposed rezoning, and potential uses of the land, are available in the June 3, 2025 Regular Council Meeting agenda.

A Public Hearing was held on July 29, 2025. Council considered all submissions and decided to rezone the following properties to allow residential development.

• 190 Maurer Drive was rezoned to Residential Narrow Lot District
• 117 – 133 Rowan Street was rezoned to Urban Node Commercial District
• 143 Rowan Street was rezoned to Urban Node Commercial District.

What's Next?

Council wil determine how the three rezoned properties will be sold and select a realtor.

The rezoned properties will be sold to a property developer with requirements for residential development within a specific timeline.

The Town will continue considering other properties for rezoning and residential development to increase the residential housing supply and meet the needs of current and future residents.

Other solutions to housing challenges are also being considered.

Get Informed

Understanding the current housing needs of Hinton residents and how housing availability affects the Town’s economic future is essential for making educated decisions about land rezoning and development.

Information will be shared on this page, the Town’s website and via other communication channels including Facebook, emails to those who choose to be notified, and traditional media channels.

A comprehensive list of Frquently Asked Questions are available on the Town of Hinton website here.

Being well informed about the housing challenges in Hinton and how they affect the Town’s future will assist residents in offering useful feedback to Council as they deliberate the proposed infill strategy.