Editor:
It’s great to hear Judith Bonkoff’s contention that council has approved “a ton of housing” as housing is indeed our top priority as a council and community.
Although we’re doing our part, unfortunately not much of it is getting built, largely due to high construction costs and other obstacles for builders. Some candidly share that these obstacles are long application times, development cost charges, numerous permits, conditions secured by council for affordable housing and car-shares, and regular, costly changes to the BC Building Code — I’m certain they don’t agree with misconceptions about “red tape” being cut.
Not all development applications and other town business need to be drawn-out battle royales pitting neighbour against neighbour and vilifying developers, community leaders and town staff. None should be, especially when applications align with our Official Community Plan.
Council’s job is not to forensically audit applicants or force them into spending tens of millions in construction regardless of economic conditions — those are their decisions they must make with their own money and assets.
Our role is to focus on land use. We consider if applications meet our community vision and needs, and we sometimes secure housing agreements and community amenities to make sure they do. These agreements and designations must be followed by any future property owners.
There is no need to regret our work on Billy’s Walk. The time and work that went into it resulted in a new zoning and development plan that meets our OCP, along with a housing agreement ensuring new affordable rentals for current renters on the property. (Also, applicants pay significant application fees to cover staff time.)
We wish the owners immediately took the next steps to start building, but those are not our steps, or our financial decisions, to make. Even though they have the property listed for sale, they might yet — we’ve seen it before.
Although growth in Gibsons evidently went up slightly last year to an estimated two per cent, growth in B.C. is slowing down. Adding in economic uncertainty, it isn’t surprising some projects are stalled or being put on the market. Regardless of private developer decisions, council will continue to match land use decisions with our Official Community Plan and housing needs.
Silas White, Mayor
Town of Gibsons
