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The 104 apartment “Arbutus” building to be built at Medusa Street and Ocean Avenue will be subject to full development cost charges (DCC) on its 31 affordable market rental units. On Nov. 4, Sechelt Council declined the Sunshine Coast Lion’s Housing Society’s request to waive the just over $310,000 DCC on those units, which are part of that group’s Greenecourt housing
development.
On Oct. 7, council authorized waiving those infrastructure charges on the other housing units in the building. Those apartments are to house seniors eligible for rental subsidy and rent geared to income suites.
Providing the partial waiver will require Sechelt to amend its DCC Bylaw. Those amendments are to be introduced for three readings at an upcoming council meeting. Endorsement of the bylaw changes would need to be considered at a subsequent meeting.
Speaking in favour of full DCC waivers on all units was Councillor Brenda Rowe, who suggested council view that action as an investment in affordable housing for the community. Mayor Darnelda Siegers expressed concerns that taking that step might set a precedent for DCC decisions on pending housing developments, such as the building proposed by the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.
Councillor Tom Lamb said that he struggled with providing full DCC waivers. In his view, collecting charges for the wastewater system was crucial to funding capital projects at Sechelt’s Water Resource Centre. Councillor Matt McLean said that DCC funding is a critical part of paying for civic infrastructure. He said that infrastructure like roads, parks, sewers and stormwater drainage enhance “the quality of life” for all residents of the area. He identified the District DCC funded capital projects of the Trail Avenue improvements and drainage in the Medusa Street and Salmon Drive areas as directly benefiting those who will reside in the new building.
The project’s development permit was also approved at the Nov. 4 meeting. Council endorsed requesting a bond of 125 percent of the estimated value of the landscape improvements be a condition of issuance of that permit. Landscape bonds are retained by the District for two years to ensure plantings related to developments are completed as planned and maintained to support their survival.
Connie Jordison
