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19th Street BC Housing Project Discussed in Council Chambers

Grand Forks City Council gave blessing to a BC Housing project on Monday, but not without hesitation. The proposed 52-unit multi family development is set for 19th Street. Council was requested to approve the form and character to allow the project to progress, but ended up defeating the motion for a number of reasons. Councillor Neil Krog was surprised when some of the details differed from what he’d originally heard.

He expresses a need for more open communication:

“In response to staff, absolutely correct if it was a private developer this stuff wouldn’t even be coming here, but the problem is they’re not a private developer, they’re a creature of the Province as we are so we should be working together.”

Councillor Chris Moslin shares concern surrounding the language in zoning bylaws:

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“Both these projects and actually the other one we’re considering today, the Boundary Drive one, point to our zoning bylaws and I’m quite apprehensive that we are being taken advantage of because of our zoning bylaw.”

He says he’s getting kind of “frazzled”.

“This project…. Finally we get it, here it is on paper on a Thursday, and oh by the way we have to change the bylaw.”

Manager of Development and Engineering explains the bylaw is supposed to allow both multi-family dwelling units and apartment buildings, but there was a typo, so no changes are actually needed.

Mayor Brian Taylor says the decision that was initially made could delay the project by at least a year.

“I have the right to draw this back for another vote which I can exercise at this point, and I certainly would like to caution you that this could be a major disaster at this point if we lose this project on the basis that they don’t like the way it looks.”

Although council shared a list of concerns, some agreed they didn’t fit directly under form and character. Mayor Taylor and Councillor Christine Thompson suggested that BC Housing already holds the contract. The motion was passed following a re-vote later that evening. The proposed 19th street project is set to feature a couple of 5-unit town houses and a 3-story 42-unit apartment complex.

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