Revelstoke city council supports Basford Drive affordable housing site study, calls for housing strategy options

Revelstoke city council is lending its support for an exploration of 127 and 141 Basford Drive in Columbia Park as potential properties for a mixed-market affordable development, but expressed concern about the viability of the proposed site. Council also asked staff to present council with options for creating a Revelstoke housing entity and a comprehensive housing strategy.

Council approved the request for a feasibility study to be conducted on the Basford Drive properties, but not before asking about the stability of the land bank where a previous housing development existed. Read our previous story about the properties at 141 and 127 Basford Drive here.

“This is a piece of property I believe had something built on it years ago and had to be removed because it was falling downhill. I am wondering now if it is a stable piece of property?” councillor Gary Sulz asked.

Councillor Linda Nixon also expressed concern about the stability of the property.

“Hearing from the community that live in that area and what they saw was a townhouse apartment complex that just rotted in front of them. Whether it’s real or not I just want to make sure we get the geotechnical and surveyors reports done before anybody puts pen to paper and decides to hire an architect,” said Nixon.

Nigel Whitehead, director of planning, said it did not appear that it was the bank that was unstable.

“From my file review of the property it did not appear it was the bank that was that it was for construction of the building and the cement foundation was feeling along with the decks were rotting,” said Whitehead.

Whitehead said part of the feasibility study will explore the viability of the site and include a geotechnical survey.

Comprehensive housing strategy supported

Councillor Aaron Orlando supported the motion to explore mixed-market affordable housing for the site, and also tabled a new motion asking staff to prepare a report for a comprehensive housing strategy for Revelstoke.

The staff report on the Basford Drive property also included a survey prepared by staff that shows what strategies other resort communities are adopting.

“I want to open a discussion building on what’s here and have staff present to council options for creating a Revelstoke comprehensive housing strategy and housing entity,” said Orlando.

Orlando put forward a separate motion to have staff present a report to council outlining options for creating a Revelstoke housing entity and a comprehensive housing strategy. The motion passed with Mayor Mark McKee and councillor Gary Sulz voting against it. Councillor Scott Duke was not present at the meeting.

Mayor McKee expressed reservations about developing a housing strategy. “I think it’s all great to talk about these studies that everybody needs … all I think about is that it’s the town crying for housing, and we all know that … I know there are steps but I also think there’s things we can be doing that don’t require waiting for all these other things to be done,” said McKee. “From the community’s perspective, they’re waiting for something to happen and we’re just calling for one study after another.”

Chief administrative officer Allan Chabot said he agrees a comprehensive housing strategy is necessary, but that Revelstoke also needs to move ahead with more immediate development.

“I don’t disagree with the sentiments of councillor Orlando that having a broader long-term comprehensive strategy is required for the community. It’s been identified in the [Official Community Plan] for a number of years, but I think about how to go about development and it’s one bite at a time,” said Chabot.

Chabot said he sees the feasibility study at 141 and 127 Basford Drive as a small step in the right direction when it comes to addressing the issue of affordable housing in Revelstoke.