242-244 ISLAND HWY ZONING BYLAW NO. 900, 2014 AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1002 COMMUNITY AMENITY CONTRIBUTION OPTIONS

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Committee receive the report from the Planner titled “242-244 Island Hwy Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 Amendment Bylaw No. 1002 Community Amenity Contribution Options” and dated June 11, 2018 for discussion.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of this report is to provide an update to the rezoning of 242-244 Island Highway regarding community amenity contribution (CAC) options for Council to consider.

BACKGROUND

242-244 Island Highway is proposed to be rezoned from R-1B: Detached Residential (Medium Lot) to RM-3: Mixed Residential. The rezoning is consistent with the Mixed Residential (M-R) Land Use Designation within the Official Community Plan.

PROJECT INFORMATION

As there is a report dedicated to community amenity contributions on this same Committee of the Whole agenda, there is no need to repeat the information here in detail here other than to say, historically, the amenity contributions for modestly sized projects such as these ranges from less than $1,000 to approximately $4,000 per unit. Larger projects can be $7-8000. These contributions have been in the form of:

1. Contributions to the CRD Regional Housing Trust Fund
2. Installation of additional offsite (extended or excess capacity type) infrastructure
3. Contributions to or construction of park improvements
4. Cash contributions earmarked for a large project

DISCUSSION

In this case, the impact on the immediate neighbourhood (additional traffic, park space, pedestrian traffic, off-site parking etc) is expected to be modest. The improvements to the road right-of-way and the proposed sidewalk cannot be considered to be amenity contributions as they are addressing minimum standards required by the Town. They would be required as frontage improvements in conjunction with a Development Permit/Building Permit process.

In the absence of specific and objective policy around community amenity contributions, and no obviously apparent need in the immediate area, a modest amount consistent with past contributions of a project of this size (~$2000 per unit) could be considered either towards transportation infrastructure improvements, parks improvements, or as a contribution to the CRD Regional Housing Trust Fund (RHTF).

The Official Community Plan speaks to a contribution to the CRD RHTF:

Policy HS1.4 Housing Amenity Contributions Ensure that any proposed multi-unit residential development requiring a rezoning provides a “housing amenity” contribution to the Town, which could be directed to the Regional Housing Trust Fund as part of the Town’s annual contribution.

OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL

Council could consider the following options for an amenity contribution as part of a rezoning for the site:

1. Require no amenity contribution.
2. Require a modest contribution to park improvements or transportation improvements in the area.
3. Require a modest contribution to the CRD Regional Housing Trust Fund.
4. Require a more significant contribution ($4000+ per unit) towards one of the options.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Committee receive the report from the Planner titled “242-244 Island Hwy Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 Amendment Bylaw No. 1002 Community Amenity Contribution Options” and dated June 11, 2018 for discussion.

SUBMITTED BY: J. Davison, MCIP RPP, Planner

REVIEWED BY: L. Chase, MCIP RPP, Director of Development Services