North Shuswap Kicker April 2022

SHUSWAP
NORTH
HALL
COMMUNITY
April 2022
Chase Housing Project
May Not be Affordable
The North Shuswap Kicker
35
By Barbra Fairclough
The proposed Chase affordable
housing project found at 116 MacPherson
and spearheaded by Don Cavers
has received support from the Michael
Shapcott of the Sorrento Housing Society.
When the January 26th development
approval letter from the Village
of Chase was issued, new requirements
were inserted.
When the project development permit
was issued it included off site road
work on Hillside Avenue that was not
previously mentioned. Mr. Cavers says
“It simply makes the project unaffordable
and financially non-viable.” And he
says that if this was mentioned previously,
he would not have proceeded to
the current stage.
Michael Shapcott attended as a
delegation to the Feb 8th regular board
meeting of the Village of Chase. He
outlined the new factors imposed in the
letter have made the proposed project
unaffordable. Until a solution is found
the project is not financially workable
because it would no longer qualify for
Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation
funding.
The National Housing Corp Investment
Fund was created to help increase
the supply of affordable housing. It
outlines the requirements to qualify for
funding of new affordable housing. Mr.
Cavers says that the proposed project
in Chase satisfies the eligibility requirements
and is designed to meet all the
goals of accessibility, energy efficiency,
access to services, and affordability.
During his presentation Mr. Shapcott
cites the Chase Housing Needs
Assessment of January 2021(Urban
Systems).
“The research indicates that there
are both owner and renter households
facing challenges of affordability. For
lone parent families and individuals,
home ownership for most types of
dwellings, with the exception of apartments
and manufactured homes, is
costly, if not prohibitive. A community
characteristic which is already impacting
housing in Chase and is set to do
more in the future is the aging demographic…Chase
is in a position similar
to many other communities in BC where
housing affordability and supply are being
challenged by pressure on the housing
market and aging demographics.”
The study also refers to the Chase
role in affordable housing solutions,
“As a municipality the main tools
available to the Village are related to
zoning. Options could include…Being
open to creative housing ideas from
community groups, societies, or developers
which may not align with zoning
as it is currently…. Encouraging or providing
incentives for developers to build
purpose-built rental housing.”
Mr. Cavers delivered to the village
office on Feb 1st supporting documents
to the delegation in advance which were
not included in the information package
prior to the board meeting Feb 8th. Mr.
Cavers later emailed documents to mayor
and council on February 18th.
Mr. Cavers outlines in his letter
the parking requirements had been addressed
by placing a covenant on an adjacent
property which would speed up
the development permit process while
feeling that the onsite parking was already
adequate. Mr. Cavers refers to the
Kamloops parking bylaw as an example
of a norm for parking in similar developments.
Mr. Cavers is in favour of discussion
for other options for pedestrian
access and egress.
In the Village’s summary of the delegation,
it was indicated that additional
information will be coming forward
from Administration.
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Frank 250-955-2924
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CLEAN-UP
SPRING
Saturday,
April 23
at 9am sharp
Hay Sales
Lot Clearing
and
Tree Removal
Franklin Pump Dealer * Canadian Groundwater Certified Pump Installers
Power Snake * Drain Pressure Washer * Sewer Inspection Camera
* Licensed Plumbers & Gasfitters
Please, bring rakes, wheelbarrows etc.
We will be providing burgers to all our
lovely volunteers, so grab your gloves
and coffee mugs and head on over!