Castlegar City Council Highlights - September 20, 2021
By City of Castlegar
DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN
Council adopted Castlegar’s Downtown Area Plan which creates a framework for improving the economic vitality and attractiveness of the City’s downtown core, guides growth and development, and establishes a vision to encourage and foster the development of a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and economically resilient downtown core. The Plan includes these key findings:
Need to attract more residential development and people into the downtown
Need consistent and modern design guidelines
A vibrant downtown core benefits everyone, including businesses in other areas of the City
HOUSING STRATEGY
Council adopted Castlegar’s Housing Strategy which aims to address the unique housing needs of the community, including a full range of housing options from homeownership and market rental to social housing and below-market housing.
PLANNING
Council reviewed Temporary Use Permit Requirements for Emergency Housing. These requirements guide the City’s expectations for the design and operation of facilities and to prepare them and the community for success. The requirements were developed to align with BC Housing and best practices as provided by Canada’s Homelessness Hub and standards met in the United States and Europe. These will be considered for final adoption at the October 4 Regular Council Meeting.
BEAR SMART COMMUNITY DUMPSTER PILOT PROJECT
Unfortunately, due to misuse, Council ended the Bear Smart Dumpster Pilot Project effective October 1. The pilot was intended to run to the end of November and was put in place to minimize human-bear conflict and give residents an option for household garbage disposal between bi-weekly collection.
BUDGET
Council approved the budget calendar which outlines key dates, meetings, and opportunities for public input into the 2022 Budget.
DEVELOPMENT
- Council supported Development Variance Permit Application DVP-3/21 to vary the maximum height and minimum parking requirements for a proposed multiple residential building at 502 11th Avenue after receiving supplemental information and a presentation from Highmark Team. This will be considered for final adoption at the October 4 Regular Council Meeting.
- Council approved Development Permit Application DP-2/21 – 1101 2nd Street which is intended to support the construction of a care facility and 8-unit multi-family development on a City-owned lot located at 1101 2nd Street in partnership with Kootenay Society for Community Living, Columbia Basin Trust, and BC Housing.
- Council considered Development Variance Permit Application DVP-5-21 – 2808 1st Avenue to vary the rear lot line setback of a single-family dwelling at 2808 1st Avenue from 7.5 metres, as required under the Single Residential (R-1) zone of Zoning Bylaw No. 800, to 4.5 metres to allow a subdivision to proceed.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Council approved the following contributions to community groups hosting public Thanksgiving events rather than hosting its own Giving Thanks event:
$1,100 to the Community Harvest Food Bank, Drop-In Center and Emergency Shelter
$300 to Kootenay IRIS (Increasing Recreation Involving Seniors)
$300 to the Way Out Shelter
$300 to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 170 Castlegar/Robson
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