North Cowichan wants to see more of a commitment for affordable housing from the developer of a proposed large residential development in Crofton.
Council voted 4-3 at its meeting on Aug. 16 to seek an increase to the amount that’s proposed to be paid by the developer as a contribution for affordable housing to $245,000 prior to considering giving second reading to the project and sending it to a public hearing.
Up to 50 housing units are proposed be constructed on a 2.4-hectare lot at 1771 Robert St.
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After a lengthy discussion around the possibility of negotiating additional affordable housing amenity contributions for the project from the developer at council’s last meeting in July, it appeared council would be evenly split on a vote to amend the official community plan to allow the property back into the urban containment boundary, where it was listed before the OCP was amended and updated last year.
With Coun. Mike Caljouw absent from the meeting, CAO Ted Swabey cautioned council that a 3-3 tie would defeat the motion and the development proposal, which had been in the works since 2020, would have to be put aside for six months before it could be reconsidered.
So Coun. Tek Manhas made the successful motion to defer the vote until Caljouw returned to the council table at the meeting on Aug. 16.
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The developer had originally proposed an approximately $60,000 contribution to affordable housing, but staff advised council that its recent policy changes regarding affordable housing should see the develop 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.
Coun. Mike Findlay said one thing not included in the affordable housing amenity contribution for the project is the donation of land for parks and trails that the developer is proposing.
He said the contribution of the land should bring the amount of funding geared toward affordable housing close to the $245,000 staff are recommending.
“This project meets the needs and these people have been waiting for years to get this development done,” Findlay said.
“I think we should carry on and let them do what they need to do and get some affordable housing built in Crofton.”
Caljouw said it makes sense to construct the development where it’s proposed because it’s right next door to sewer and water connections.
He said that the developer’s offer to increase the contribution to affordable housing to $140,000, plus the price of the land contribution, which he figured would be approximately $100,000, should be sufficient for the proposal to get a second reading and go to a public hearing.
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Coun. Chris Istace said he also thinks the development would an excellent addition to the Crofton community, but the contribution of land for parks and trails is already a requirement for development proposals in North Cowichan.
“So [the developers] are not doing us any favours,” he said.
“We shouldn’t mix the community contributions in regards to green space with community contributions in regards to affordable housing.”
Staff pointed out that the trail land part of the proposed green-space contribution is considered a right-of-way so it’s over and above the five per cent cash-in-lieu of parkland contribution required by the municipality for development proposals.
The motion to seek more funding for affordable housing from the developer passed, with Findlay, Caljouw and Manhas opposed.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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