A large residential development in Crofton that would see up to 50 housing units constructed at 1771 Robert St. has moved forward an important step.
After months of discussions and negotiations, the project on a 2.4-hectare lot has been given second reading by North Cowichan council and will go to a public hearing.
Council voted 4-3 at its meeting on Oct. 4 to accept the applicant’s offer of a contribution of between $136,000 and $152,000 to the municipality’s affordable housing fund, well below the approximately $245,000 that was requested by council, as well as a number of other community amenities.
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The developer had originally proposed an approximately $60,000 contribution to affordable housing, but staff advised council in August that its recent policy changes regarding affordable housing should see the developer pay approximately $400,000 for a project of this size and nature.
Staff suggested a compromise commitment of $245,000 towards affordable housing, and the developer countered with an offer of $140,000, raising it up to as much as $152,000 after more negotiations with North Cowichan.
Before the decision was made to accept the developer’s proposal, Coun. Christopher Justice said that, in his view, the developer’s contribution for affordable housing is insufficient and does nothing to convince him that the community would adequately benefit from the project.
But Coun. Mike Caljouw said the project would be right next door to existing services that it can tie into and, while North Cowichan will have to pay to maintain services like sewer and water, the developer has agreed to put the infrastructure in place.
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“For me, it fits into the community almost like a puzzle, and this piece will complete that puzzle,” he said.
“It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I think we need to take this risk.”
Mayor Rob Douglas suggested that council refer the application back to staff so the land economist North Cowichan has been working with on other issues could take a look at what the developer is offering in relation to the land’s value after rezoning.
“We would normally be asking for approximately $410,000 for a development of this size based on our draft affordable housing policy,” he said.
Coun. Chris Istace asked if it would be possible to postpone consideration of the application and say to the developer that their commitment to affordable housing has to be $245,000.
But CAO Ted Swabey suggested that referring the matter back to staff again would likely not be the best move.
“I wouldn’t dance on the head of a pin, I would reject the application,” he said.
“It hasn’t met your needs. The developer has made it clear that this is the maximum [for affordable housing] that they can provide. If it hasn’t met your needs, then your option is to reject it.”
But the motion to give second reading to the development and to send it to a public hearing passed, with Douglas, Justice and Coun. Debra Toporowski opposed.