Editor:
I find the Gibsons council’s vote to support the SCRD’s plan “to look at ways to increase the affordable housing stock” (Coast Reporter, March 24) to be quite disingenuous given their recent decisions toward a proposal of a 60 to 100 unit, purpose-built, 55+ affordable housing project from a local non-profit organization. On Feb. 7 council was asked about rezoning an undeveloped scrub-treed piece of land that butts up against an existing townhouse complex and the back of the Baptist Church’s existing property to allow for non-profit affordable housing. Based on a staff recommendation against rezoning this strip of land next to already existing homes, the council has closed the door toward a solution that they state on the Town’s website as a high priority for the people of Gibsons. In the Feb. 21 council meeting, the committee nailed the door closed for good measure. According to Coast Reporter, Coun. White has had “conversations with people” that have strengthened his opinion and Coun. Lumley has rethought his position and thinks that housing would not be the best use of this land. Makes me wonder who they have been talking to or who’s been talking to them. And for extra double talk, they would still be open to talking to the church representatives.
The SCRD’s plan is to look at “rural residential areas and village cores” to increase affordable housing. Rural residential is hardly useful land for older adults looking for more walkability and proximity access to services. That need is best met in village cores such as Upper Gibsons. And that is what the Baptist Church knows about affordable housing for seniors. They know that many people on the Coast have worked in minimum wage service jobs or have been self-employed with no pension benefits and need to live somewhere they can afford when their working days are over. And they need to be able to get around without having to afford a car. This council says they want affordable housing but when the possibility is laid out right in front of them, they balk. Our councillors seem content to search for unused and unusable pieces of land in areas where NIMBY is ever present or wait on government grants and draft plans from developers who are “considering” a unit or two of affordable housing. This need is now. The time for action is now.
Wanda Selzer, Gibsons
