Affordable housing policy adopted

Wayne Moore - Story: Feb 24, 2009 Castanet:
Kelowna Council has finally adopted an affordable housing policy. The policy outlines what developers will have to provide the City in exchange for receiving density bonuses on specific projects. Council has been debating the issue for the better part of two years. The new policy gives developers the option of designating units as affordable or contribute to the City's Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund in exchange for density bonuses. Where additional density is permitted under current zoning, the City will consider a cash payment equal to 75 per cent of the value of the bonus area, as determined by a professional appraiser if the developer cannot provide affordable housing on the site. Council also agreed that development applications currently in the system would only have to make a payment equal to the 50 per cent of the value of the bonus area. Councillor Andre Blanleil, who voted against the new policy, says he's concerned about the timing of bringing in such a directive during tough economic times. "I worry about the timing. We haven't got a clue what's coming or what may come. Hopefully something can change between now and then," says Blanleil. "Certainly we have seen a major slowdown here. Let's just see where this all ends. I don't know if right now is the time to add more burden onto an industry that is facing its share of problems."

Councillor Luke Stack, says he couldn't disagree more. Stack says it's unacceptable to him to continue doing nothing in regards to the policy. "We're not loading anything on to the development community. What we are saying is the current zoning bylaws we have today are in place and every developer has full rights and opportunities to exercise their ability to build under those guidelines," says Stack. "What we're talking about here today is options. If a developer sees fit that he can benefit from adding additional density to his site, then he has the option at his discretion to do so." Stack says instead of a developer getting 100 per cent of the benefit from increasing the number of units allowed, there should be something given back to the public good. Council also agreed to revisit the policy in a year, once the review of the Official Community Plan is complete. Blanleil and Graeme James voted against the policy.