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City of Powell River council briefs

Approves permits for Cranberry Place; Extends community finance advisory committee term; Accepts 2020 audit results; Applies for UBCM funding
powell-river-city-hall
Powell River city hall.

Approves permits

City of Powell River council has approved a development variance permit and development permit for Cranberry Place, an affordable housing complex in Cranberry.

At the May 6 city council meeting, councillors voted to relax a required side setback from three metres to 1.5 metres to permit construction of covered entrances and second floor decks. A development permit to construct a multifamily residential housing development on lands located on Cranberry Street was also approved. Councillor Rob Southcott said the development permit is to okay the 24-unit affordable housing rental housing development to go forward.

Extends term

City council has voted to extend the term of the community finance advisory committee for an additional six weeks. The terms of reference were amended such that the term expiry be extended from May 15 to July 31. Committee vice-chair councillor George Doubt said the committee felt it needed more time to discuss what the committee would like to make for recommendations, then write a final report.

“They would like to make some suggestions about future terms of reference because they felt the terms of reference for this committee were a little complicated,” said Doubt. “They want to extend the terms and get the work done by the end of July.”

Accepts audit

Council voted to accept the City of Powell River’s 2020 audit results and communications. Finance committee chair councillor George Doubt said council received an extensive report from the auditor and it was a clean audit report. He said there were some concerns for city staff to address, such as an internet security policy.

Grant application

City of Powell River will make an application for up to $500,000 in grant funding from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to update and modernize the city’s development approvals process. Councillor Rob Southcott said it is an amazing opportunity and the need was pronounced in the development side of the city’s planning department.

“It’s an opportunity to upgrade both the applications and approval processes for development,” said Southcott. “I know the development community here has been asking for improvements and our planning department has worked very hard to satisfy those. This is an opportunity, if the grant is received, to add significant software and efficiencies.”