A rental housing complex may soon be a reality in Dentville.
Councillors voted Tuesday night to rezone land for the rental housing project on Buckley Avenue, though many finer details need to be worked out before shovels are in the ground on the project.
“Almost any development anywhere will have an impact on those around it but I think in this case it’s relatively minor,” said Coun. Doug Race.
“All in all, I think this will be a good place for this.”
Other councillors praised the walkability of the location at 38648 Buckley Ave., just north of Howe Sound Secondary School, but stressed the need to strive for low rents.
Coun. Ted Prior voted against third reading, saying more details were needed before he could support the development.
The decision on Tuesday night was a land zoning change, meaning council was not voting on the number of units or the cost of the rentals.
The rental housing complex — which is a District of Squamish and BC Housing initiative — is still in a planning phase. Currently, the proposal is to include 72 apartment units in a five-storey building and eight lower-density townhouse units, as well as surface parking and possibly a new Youth Centre.
Residents Eric Armour and Sarah Weber both spoke at the public hearing held before the vote on Tuesday night. They said they support affordable housing in theory, but opposed the project on the Buckley site.
Weber said she was concerned about five-storeys being too tall for the area, and added the property is already used as a defacto park by the community.
Armour was concerned about the cost of the proposed housing units and the likely increase in the number of vehicles to the area. “I think there is a need for low-income housing, but this is not affordable, it’s mainstream,” said Armour. “I don’t think it’s a good fit. Traffic is a big issue with it as well.”
The land is already owned by the District, which eliminates some of the upfront cost.
Although lower than the average market prices, the rental rates being proposed are not heavily subsidized because they are tied to construction costs.
Right now the estimated rents would be around 10 per cent below market value, with monthly rents projected at $990 for a studio, $1,170 for a one bedroom, $1,440 for a two-bedroom and $2,250 for a three bedroom.
District manager Gary Buxton said BC Housing has expressed interest in covering the capital costs of the project, which would allow rents to be lowered further.
If that can be approved, he said those rents could be brought down lower to 20 per cent below or even some at 30 per cent below.
“There’s a lot of work still to be done, and as [District manager Gary Buxton] points out, unless we come to an equitable solution from BC Housing, it’s not a go, so we still have a lot of work to get there,” said Coun. Peter Kent, who voted in support of the zoning change.
The rezoning still has to be ratified at a future council meeting.
