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Council received comment during a Public Hearing on a rezoning
application regarding the property at 700 & 705 Centre Street. The
rezoning is sought to allow for a medium density residential
development. The area is currently zoned R2-A, which allows for duplex
and single family housing. The surrounding neighborhood is mostly
against the rezoning application for various reasons. However Council is
faced with a difficult decision to make, as our community is in dire
need of additional housing units. Upcoming Public Hearings are scheduled
on Sept 10 at 3:00 pm for an OCP amendment regarding the property at
305-311 First Street West, as well as for zoning amendment Bylaw 1879
regarding secondary suites.
Council has accepted a
request from the RCEC to be exempt from municipal property taxes. This
is allowable under Provincial legislation. This exemption will mean a
savings – or subsidy- of approximately $17,000. Total permissive tax
exemptions cost the City $107,648 in 2006 and $123,804 in 2007.
The Revelstoke
Accommodation Association has recently approved the imposition of a 2%
additional hotel room tax, and is striving to implement the tax as of
May 1, 2008. This tax will fund tourism marketing and infrastructure
projects in our community. With this tax Revelstoke becomes a designated
resort community. The City is required to submit a 5 year plan to the
Province outlining what those infrastructure funds will be used for.
The Community Development
Action Plan is nearing completion and appears to be a comprehensive and
functional document. One recommendation from that report is to form a
Social Action Council and Council has approved the terms of reference
for such. If you are interested in Social justice in Revelstoke then
this committee might be for you, as Council will be seeking
representation from the general public.
The Revelstoke Freestyle
Ski Club is working with the Revelstoke Rowing Club to develop a summer
training facility on Lake Revelstoke. Funding from the CBT Community
Development Fund has been obtained, with further requests from the
Economic Opportunities Fund expected. There are few summer training
facilities in the province, and the development of this facility will
allow for training opportunities for local athletes as well as from
across BC.
Higher and improved glass
has been installed at the arena, and has made a big improvement to the
facility. Use of the arena during August has accommodated the Grizzlies
training camp as well as a junior hockey prep camp and a minor hockey
school.
The City has adopted a
Health and Wellness Plan discount program for any employer which
registers its program with the Parks and Recreation Department.
Council has adopted a
“Latecomer’s Policy” regarding contributions from latecomers who wish to
connect to extended services paid for by a developer/owner. The
latecomer charge is a prorated share of the cost of the excess or
extended services, which the City has determined will benefit the
referenced parcel. This policy and calculation sheets will be available
at City Hall.
The Affordable Housing
Committee has had its first meeting and has formed four sub committees:
Entry level ownership, rental accommodation, emergency and
transitional/supportive housing and Seniors housing. With all of the new
development and volatile real estate pricing in our community housing
has become a hot topic issue, and for some has created desperate
situations. The committee hopes to bring some solid recommendations to
Council by October.
Submitted by
Councillor Singh
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