DCC input
Sechelt council has set three meeting times on June 16 for initial public engagement on proposed Development Cost Charge (DCC) increases in the District of Sechelt.
An invitation-only afternoon briefing for the development community will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m., an open house will be held at the Seaside Centre from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and an E-Town Hall event will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the District’s community use room.
A staff report from director of financial services Doug Stewart brought forward at the June 1 regular council meeting said initial estimates look as though DCCs will have to “increase significantly from $11,573 per dwelling unit to over $20,000 per dwelling unit.”
Staff will gather feedback at the public meetings and incorporate any “relevant information that is brought forward” into a draft DCC bylaw that will be brought before council for consideration of first reading at a future council meeting.
“A second public consultation will be undertaken after the draft bylaw receives first reading,” Stewart’s report stated.
The report also said the process of changing the DCCs would involve “extensive consultation with local developers, home builders and the general public” and that the June 16 events would be just the start of that consultation.
Community members can also give input by filling out a feedback form at www.sechelt.ca.
The website also has a link to watch the E-Town Hall meeting live on June 16, at which time the public can submit questions through the district’s Facebook page or on Twitter using #SecheltDCC.
Library
Sechelt council approved a $2,500 expenditure on June 1 to allow a second-storey concept design to be created for the municipal hall and library building in Sechelt.
The Municipal Hall-Library Building Committee asked council to approve the expenditure in order to come up with a clearer concept of possible second-storey improvements that could be included in library renovation plans.
Coun. Doug Wright said although it was his suggestion that second-storey plans be considered by the group, he wasn’t in favour of footing the $2,500 bill “when it’s not in our budget.”
Stewart said the funds would have to come from surplus and the expenditure would require an amendment to the budget already passed by council.
Library liaison and Coun. Darnelda Siegers said the second storey would provide additional space for the municipality to use as well as the library and noted, “we see this as a one-time [ask].”
When the question was called to approve the expenditure, Milne, Siegers and councillors Mike Shanks and Alice Lutes were in favour while Wright and Coun. Darren Inkster were opposed (Noel Muller was absent from the meeting), and the motion passed.
