Growth Blows Away City Plan

One thing at a time Busting loose Blast of a bash Repap wood deal part of gov't A new CD highlights a variety of Crunching Demo derby ends strategy to stabilize the pulp northwest musical another season at Terrace industry\NEWS PAGE All talent\COMMUNITY B:I. Speedway\SPORTS B8 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 1996 93¢ PLUS 7¢ GST Tz NDARD VOL. 9 NO. 23 Growth blows away city plan THE DRAMATICB~y JEFF growthNAGEL of Terrace in City officials say we're now at the wouldn't reach the 500 units already The same goes for the housing market, and shouldn't be followed," he says. level of residential development they built until 2003 or 2004, Trawin says. the last few years has nearly made the he added. The building surge hasn't put "It's that the time frame of the plan has hadn't expected to reach until the year "It's not like we built these 500 unils city's three-year-old Official Community 2004. any disceruable downward pressure on been accelersted." Plan obsolete. The OCP had anticipated 209 new real estate prices. City officials anticipate there's still The pace of development has far out- residential units would be built by the "The OCP was based upon previous enough land earmarked in the OCP for stripped what had been projected in 1993 end of the 1991-1996 five-year period. growth," Trawin says. "Basically the eventual residential use to satisfy when the Official Community Plan Well, 1996 is not yet f'mished and city We built 500 units and the growth started right exactly the same demand for the next 10 years. " (OCP) was adopted. planner David Trawin says we've got vacancy rate has stayed the time as the OCP came out." But Trawin said not rezoning that land OCPs are used to determine what kind nearly 500 more residential units. That same, says city planner Trawin says the city can't simply as- could result in a supply shortage and of development should go where and consists of about 357 single-family units, David Trawin. sume the current influx of people spur- drive lot prices up. provide a detailed blueprint of how 29 duplex units and around 100 multi- ring development will continue for the "If current growth rates continue, the municipalities should look in the years family units. next 10 years or so. OCP will have to be redone in another ahead. The plan had expected about 220 more But it does mean adjustments to the year or two," Trawin says. They work fine during normal growth units to be built from 1996 to 2001. And way the city handles rezonings, and the If Thornhill/I'errace amalgamation or periods but recent economic growth has and the vacancy rate went way up," he cautious use of the OCP in guiding those restructuring goes through, he said, it at an additional rate of 25 units per year, says. "We built these 500 units and the decisions. skewed the entire time frame of the plan. the anticipated model of development would make the most souse to redraft the vacancy rate has remained constant." "It's not like the plan isn't any good OCP at the same time. Senior housing takes leap ahead SPONSORS OF a new kind 1990s when attempts for of housing in Terrace are direct government financing confident they'll soon have failed. the financing for the project. This time financing will ~i::ii~:!:;:~:::: ;;' ::~ i'i~ i~:: iii~il :~i::I Members of the Dr. come through a bank or R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foun- other financial institution, i datioa say they've received making the project a stand- tavourable signals from the a~ne, user-pay propositit~i. Caaadian Mortgage and The land in question was Housing Corporation dedicated for such a housing (CMHC) for a seniors sup- facility years ago. portive housing project to be Braid and other founda- !iii built adjacent to the Ter- tion members are meeting raceview Lodge extended with interested people next care facility. week to examine poss~le If all goes according to building designs. plaa, CMHC will provide The initial plan is to con- the foundation with a loan struct 40 supportive housing Wayne Braid guarantee for construction units. Foundation chairman mouey by using the land as "There's no question security. Marilyn Davies says she's there's a need for this kind happy with the progress on "We're hoping that's the of housing in Terrace," said the project and response of way it's going to be," said Braid in adding he's already interested people. Wayne Braid, chairman of taking phone calls from And she's looking forward the foundation's building people who want their to next week's meeting of conunittee last week. names on an occupancy list. interested patios. A boost to the financing One side benefit to the "We don't want to go out plan was news last week project is that it might and say 'this is what you that the site has passed the reduce the pressure on Ter- need'. We want to say 'what first hurdle of studies to raccview Lodge. determine that there are no do you need,"' said Davies. That's because there is Iuitial indications are that environmental problems. often no option for people Supportive housing is all units will be on ground who need occasional care floor and be approximately de flood as accommodation other than to be placed in for people who, while they 600 square feet in size. Terraceview at a greater ex- There will be provisions are able to live by them- pense than otherwise should selves, may need occasional made for people using be the case. wheelchairs and for those assistance. Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Placing the project next to with limited mobility. Terraccview Lodge is regarded as an excellent op- portunity to have that kind City seeks new deal of assistance close at hand. CITY COUNCILLORS are in Penticton all this week to Supportive housing resi- lobby provincial government ministers on key issue. dents could, for instance, The nmin goal is to meet with municipal affairs minister choose to have meals at Ter- I)an Miller and convince him that a better Terrnee. • i Ill Emergency, emergency raceview. Thornhill restructure package is needed. And,:a spouse of a person They'll also be pushing Miller for a more reasonable deal to transfer Crown land surrounding the airport tothe city. in Terraceview may be able GROANS AND SCREAMS of make-believe victims punctuated the movements of occupational first-aid That land is viewed as a potential light industrial site that to live right next door. attendants at the Forwest Wood Specialties mill here Saturday, where first-aid crews had gathered from would provide a tax base to help generate money to operate This isn't the first time and maintain the airport. across northern B.C. and as far as Blue Ridge, Alberta. The annual competition is aimed at recognizing supportive housing has been excellence and making West Fraser workers even more effective in the event of an emergency;Each Councillors also wont close coasideratlon given In summer the focus of a sustained ef- ferry service from Prince Rupert to Vanconver Island. mill's team faced a scenario that involved a collision of two forklifts and four injured workers, : .... fort. ..... Mayor Jack Talstra and councillors Val George, Rich Efforts stalled in the early McDaniel, David llull and Gordon Iiull are all there. Bylaw to crackdown on illegal suites THE CITY is preparing for a crackdown ments. cumstances -- will have to stop renting tlal lifestyle, without the congestion that of a family living together as a single on owners of illegal suites built in the That policy only applies to suites built last five years. out the suites. If they don't tile city can comes with secondary suites, household and containing only one set of since Jan. 1, 1991. Older suites are ultimately pull the occupancy pcmdt and Hull said it's not that much more cost- cooking facilities." A bylaw introduced by council last "grandfathered" hi and aren't affected. cut off city services like water and iy when building a new home to make A secondary suite will be defined as a week tightens up the legal definition of But city officials have encountered sewer, and direct Other ~utilitic.~ to do sure a suite meets code. "second and subordinate dwelling unit secondary suites contained in the city outright defiance from some builders zoning bylaw. likewise, : "Thcre's no more than a dozen indi- within a single detached dwelling whcre who have put up houses with suites in Suites in R2 zones that were built since viduals who have just defiantly gone out permitted by this bylaw." The change is being made on advice contravention of the rules in the last fiive fi'om the city's lawyers to fortify the years. Jan. 1, 1991 and donJt meet code will and thumbed their noses lit the law and The new bylaw also states that: have to renovate to mcct code. "I'he built these illegal structures," Hull said. [] Only one secondary suite is definition to ensure any action the city City councillor David Hull said owners ultimate measure against those owners -Well , if you don't enforce the bylaws, permitted on a parcel of land. takes will hold up in court. of newly built homes with occupied il- would be a court order that the suite not it's anarchy " The bylaw is expected to pass at the legal suites can expect to face stiff sane- be occupied : • ~ "At ....

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