General Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2008 12 noon
Qualicum Beach Civic Centre
In Attendance: Michelle Jones, Chair Bruce Cownden
Rob Hoffman Karen Barry
Kim Burden Bud Shelly
Joel McDaniel Duane Round
Scott Cownden Garry Bentham
Egon Kuhn Shirley Wright
Marjorie Picard Maureen Pilcher Bon Thorburn
Guests: Councillor Wendy Maurer, Town of Qualicum Beach
Councillor Chris Burger, City of Parksville
Marilyn Hayden, Recording Secretary
Michelle Jones called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm and introduced new members Scott Cownden, Northridge Equipment Ltd. and Garry Bentham, Village Design & Drafting. Introductions were made around the table.
Affordable Housing Brainstorming
· Michelle Jones reported that the City of Parksville has invited the ODCA to make a delegation to the City at their Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 14th.
Summary of concerns and comments:
· Parksville is using the City of Langford model, but has omitted Langford’s timelines.
· No referral to secondary suites in the report.
· Nothing to indicate demographic changes in the report.
· 100 units would have to be developed to arrive at 10 affordable housing units.
· Zoning issue.
· Smaller units are esthetical and using creative designs can be constructed much more affordable.
· DCCs should be paid on sq. footage and 100% parking not needed.
· The parking issue is not the same as in large centres.
· Creativity needs to be addressed. In some centres, the developer provides cars when developing a strata to deal with the parking issue in affordable housing developments. The developer provides cars for owners to book for their needs for a nominal cost.
· AHOP program – federally funded.
· 1 affordable housing unit pushes up the price of 9 other units.
· Some stringent restrictions placed on the developer cause the housing price to rise significantly.
· A 90 year lease on land for manufactured home policy could work.
· Strata units sell very quickly, but difficult for construction workers to find accommodation.
· Creation of small lot zones would assist in affordable housing. It is working in Nanaimo. Lot coverage in Parksville is 33%, it needs changing.
· Create zoning for duplexes on single family lots.
· New building code rain screening adds $6,000 per house.
· Invite the city to take part in a workshop with ODCA.
· Other than the April 14th delegation to the City of Parksville, what else can the ODCA do on this issue.
· The roll for the ODCA is to show the costs to development.
Councillor Chris Burger
· City of Parksville is reviewing areas in the city that DCCs could be paid on sq. footage.
· He will continue to pursue a meeting with the ODCA and city staff & council.
· Suggests a housing authority be formed to address with one message.
· Can the ODCA work with the city to approach Federal and Provincial government?
Councillor Wendy Maurer
· Qualicum Beach just received a grant for a study on legal suites.
· Suggests a written synopsis on affordable housing and have a meeting with ODCA members, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and RDN to address the issue together.
· Following the discussion the Affordable Housing delegation was referred to the Board Meeting.
· Duane Round reported that he attended the City of Parksville February 21st Open House on proposed changes to DCCs and was disappointed that there were no Councillors in attendance to discuss the effect of DCCs on affordable housing . Councillor Chris Burger reported that Council did attend the open house at various times, as it was an open house running from 3-6 pm.
Approval of Agenda
There were no additions to the agenda.
Approval of February 20, 2008 Minutes
MOTION: Moved by Duane Round, seconded by Bruce Cownden to accept the minutes of February 20, 2008 as circulated. CARRIED