Housing proposals in progress
Bylaw amendments for a 28-unit residential market rental apartment building planned for near the intersection of Ebbtide Street and Wharf Avenue were adopted at the Nov. 3 Sechelt Council meeting. Staff noted that the next step for this proposal will be the preparation of a development permit for the five-story structure.
In response to an inquiry from Council, director of planning Andrew Allan stated that the Sunshine Coast Lion’s Housing Society remains in discussions with BC Housing regarding funding for its proposed 104-unit apartment at the Greenecourt site. He noted that the development permit for that project is to be issued once the Society meets the permit requirements and that work at the staff level on a building permit for the project, aimed at providing affordable rental housing for seniors, has started.
At the same meeting, a zoning amendment for Everbrite Venture’s proposed twelve small lot single family residential development on West Sechelt’s Nickerson Road was referred to a public hearing. Coun. Alton Toth, commenting on an Oct. 4 letter from the West Sechelt Community Association stating its concerns about the proposed increased housing density on that site, said, “I am not sure how I feel on the matter, but I am interested in sending it to public hearing to hear for people directly on the issue.”
Staff noted that the hearing would be scheduled later in November and would be held using the Zoom meeting platform in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.
Poverty reduction strategy
Following the receipt of the Sunshine Coast Poverty Reduction Strategic Framework report, Coun. Matt McLean asked, “Now that we’ve adopted this, what’s the next step…how do we bring it in to action?”
Council’s answer was to refer the report to staff and ask for a costed strategy for implementation of the report’s eight recommendations. In addition, the 44-page report will be sent to local Member of the Legislative Assembly and Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Nicholas Simons, as well as the other Coast local governments.
Coast Reporter spoke with Simons on Nov. 8 about the report. He indicated that his ministry sponsored a number of these projects throughout the province, providing grants to local governments through the Union of BC Municipalities. He said the process is part of a greater provincial poverty reduction strategy that was established in 2017 and speaks to the need “for cross-jurisdictional approaches to poverty reduction”.
Commenting on the Coast’s report, he said that it was “comprehensive, thorough and has some really good recommendations, including the establishment of a social planning council.”
Simons said he believes that setting up such a council is a “good first step” for the Coast to take, as it can help ensure that the programs and services supported by the province aimed at addressing poverty are taken up by local communities. “It is important that the community gets together to identify the key areas of need and that those get reflected in local government’s communication with the province, as that ultimately shapes the policies and programs that come out of provincial and federal governments,” Simons said.
Sechelt contracted the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre in the fall of 2020 to produce the report on behalf of the Coast’s local governments.
Canada flag half-masting policy
A new policy was adopted authorizing Council, or the Chief Administrative Officer in conjunction with the mayor or deputy mayor, to have the municipal hall’s Canada flag flown at half mast to mark events, including deaths considered significant for the community. The policy follows national protocols, including lowering of the flag for the Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Remembrance Day.
