Revelstoke Grizzlies set to start 2014-15 season with main camp this weekend – 12
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Weds., August 20, 2014 www.revelstoketimesreview.com Vol. 117, No. 34
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TIMESReview
$1.25
Golden Aquaducks - 13
Welcome home!
Homecoming weekend attracted big crowds to Revelstoke – exact numbers weren’t available as of press time – but we’re certain it was well over 1,000 people. They filled up the hotels, crowded downtown, took in the music and museums and restaurants and other events that took place over the course of the three days. Long-time locals were out, as were people who moved away decades ago, like Jack McMahon and Bob Burchinshaw (above, from left), who both moved away in the early 1950s, but still come back to visit old friends. For more Homecoming coverage, see pages eight and nine. ~ Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review
Housing society, city trade shots over affordable housing delays Alex Cooper
editor@revelstoketimesreview.com
The delay in building 12 new affordable housing units in Revelstoke spilled into council chambers, with the Revelstoke Community Housing Society blaming the city for the delays and the mayor putting the blame on the society. “I have to express my frustration and disappointment that we’re not moving faster,” said Mayor David Raven during Tuesday’s council meeting. “Short of digging a hole myself, it’s not going to get there.” He was responding to a request on the council agenda for the city to
enter into a 60-year lease with the housing society that was accompanied by a letter from housing society chair Mark McKee saying delays at city hall were threatening the project. “It is time for the city to not only say they support the project but to actually put some firm actions to ensure this project becomes reality,” wrote McKee in his letter. For now, the issue is the delays in getting the housing society’s building permits issued so it can proceed with a multi-million dollar affordable housing project on Oscar Street. BC Housing has committed $1.4 million to the project, but that
money is at risk if the development doesn’t move forward soon. According to a staff report, there are still three outstanding items that need to be resolved before the units can be built: — The city and society need to sign a lease on the land; — The city needs to issue the society a building permit; — The city or society needs to obtain exemption from the new home owner warranty. On Tuesday, council approved a motion to allow the housing society to either enter sign a 60-year lease with the city or gain ownership over the property. Tim Palmer, the
city’s Chief Administrative Officer, told council that the 45-page lease was close to being complete. Once it is signed, the city could then apply for exemption from new homeowner protection warranty. However, the housing society could choose to obtain ownership of the property, meaning it would have to apply for the exemption. Council was told the building permit couldn’t be issued without the exemption. Dean Strachan, the manager of development services, said provincial legislation required the exemption be obtained before a building permit could be issued. He also said the planning depart-
ment hadn’t received all the drawings needed to sign off on the building permit. The housing society asked the city to expedite all processes. “We are concerned that any further delays in the approval processes from both the city and BC Housing will delay the construction start date, which will result in further increased construction costs, or a delay until the spring which may involve a whole re-tendering process,” wrote McKee. “This would put the project back at the starting gate, which may put our successful
see Housing, page 6
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