After two lengthy discussions and numerous questions, council for the District of 樱桃视频unanimously agreed to support a UBCM tourism funding application for $107,000 to launch a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).
A Community Tourism Plan based at the Adventure Centre under the auspices of the 樱桃视频Sustainability Corporation, submitted a DMO marketing and sales strategy that may fit the criteria of a Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) tourism funding program.The creation of a 樱桃视频DMO has been a topic of interest for well over 10 years, according to a staff report.
"In the past there have been attempts to get such an organization of the ground but each attempt met with failure," it states.
Priorities set for the funds include the development or upgrading of tourism plans, the development or enhancement of promotional tools such as signage, brochures, and websites, Visitor Information Centre improvements, and the enhancement of festivals and events.
The highest priority, however, is to make the DMO sustainable at the end of two years, according to presenter Toran Savjord. To that end, the group intends to implement a hotel tax as soon as possible. Two per cent taxed on each of the town's 330 bed units would mean that, at 69 per cent capacity, $100,000 would go to the DMO in one year.
Coun. Greg Gardner said he was concerned about the seemingly overly complicated organizational structure, a funding model that may or may not be sustainable within two years, and the timing. Gardner said that although he would support the application, he hoped the tourism committee would keep council up to date on activities.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she was concerned with the amount of staff time was being allocated to a project since should be part of the district's arm's length organization, the SSC. She said she wanted to see a monetary breakdown of staff time dedicated to the project.
Hudson House development approved
Council unanimously and enthusiastically issued a development permit to a proposed residential and commercial project at the site of the current Hudson House low-income building on Second Ave. Applicants Davoud Mir-Taheri and Mohammad Shidfar are expected to transform the block by demolishing the Hudson House, the former pool hall and mini flea market, and replace them with 56 residential units above three ground-floor retail units, a four-storey mezzanine and parking for 59 vehicles. The development would look similar to its neighbouring new development, 樱桃视频Point, but slightly higher and with more colour, said planning staffer Sabina FooFat.
The permit now authorizes the developers to issue eviction notices for the remaining Hudson House residents, and recent arbitration settled a dispute in the residents' favour, according to one resident. The tenants have been refunded February's rent and will live rent-free for the remainder of the two-month eviction notice.
Staff and the proponents have discussed the impact from the loss of the Hudson House "at length," according to a staff report, but there's little the municipality can do.
"The building is privately owned, therefore no covenants or housing restrictions can be placed on that building or any new development permit application [on the site]."
The developer and architect have proposed mitigating measure such as the creation of smaller, more affordable loft units on the fourth floor and contribute $800 per strata unit to the Affordable Housing Fund for a total of $44,800.
Staff is working with affordable housing committees to set benchmarks for units or portions of money to go toward funding units at below market value. But the low-income housing previously existing in the dilapidated Hudson House is a challenge to replace, according to Sutherland in an interview for the Feb. 9 issue of the Chief.
"Providing low-income housing is a huge challenge for any community - especially a community of 15,000 people - without the support of other levels of government."
Council agree on bridge options
Council unanimously endorsed moving forward with the Pemberton Ave. and Westminster Street options of the Mamquam Blind Channel crossing after a contentious deferment proposal by Gardner during a Feb. 6 council meeting.
On Feb. 6, Gardner said he was "losing sleep" over limiting the bridge options to Pemberton Ave. and Westminster St. and wanted to discuss the issue again during an in-camera meeting with property owners who would be affected by the bridges. Gardner said he felt engineering consultants SNC Lavalin presented inadequate information during their analysis of six crossing options, and cost estimates remained obscure."We're making a $25 million decision here," he said.
Council endorsed moving forward with the two options as described in the SNC Lavalin's final report on the alternate downtown access, and requested staff bring back a breakdown comparison of costs for each option.
Council endorses development on Brew Pub parking lot
Coun. Raj Kahlon was the lone dissenter in support of a 33-unit residential development on a portion of the Howe Sound Brew Pub parking lot that is viewed as one answer to Squamish's affordable housing shortage. Studio units along one- and two-bedroom units will be smaller, thus more affordable than other recent developments.
On Sept. 5, with Gardner and Jenson opposed, council supported a staff recommendation to approve a development variance permit that would remove stalls from the pub parking lot. The property owner, Dave Fenn, and a developer partnered had applied to vary the parking requirement of the zone to allow for subdivision and redevelopment.
On Tuesday (Feb. 20), Jenson was still disturbed by the removal of parking and the increasing density of the small portion of land.
"We'll be creating future problems down the road," he said.
Gardner said he's moved on from the decision to remove parking and endorsed the project since it "supports the vibrancy" of the downtown. Kahlon was also concerned over parking, especially with the possible development of nearby Oceanfront land, he said.
Council passed the first two readings of the zoning amendment bylaw that would allow for the development. A public hearing is scheduled for March 6.
Seniors assisted living facility gets go ahead
Council unanimously passed the first three readings of a zoning amendment bylaw for the building of a seniors' assisted living facility following a public hearing.
The residential units are specifically designated to house residents over 55 years of age, or an individual who resides with a person aged 55 years requiring some level of personal care service.
Senior resident Bill Rempel inquired about the expansion of subsidization units.
The 75-unit facility would have a minimum of 20 subsidized units with funding from BC Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health, and the proponent stated that with more funding, more units could become subsidized.
Correction
On page A1 of the Tuesday (Feb. 20) edition of the newspaper, The 樱桃视频Today incorrectly reported that the District of 樱桃视频would hold a public hearing on a seniors' residential facility being developed on Third Ave. by Solterra.
