City of Powell River mayor Ron Woznow believes there is strong community support for selling or leasing city-owned properties to help with city taxes and to fund city initiatives.
The Peak issued a poll asking: “Do you support the utilization of some of the city's 160 properties to generate revenue and reduce maintenance costs.”
There were 378 responses, with 306 votes, or about 81 per cent, in agreement. There were 72 no votes, or about 18 per cent opposed. Woznow said the results were not a surprise to him.
Woznow said he hears two things from other mayors regarding city properties. One is that Powell River is so lucky to have 160 city-owned properties, and the second is: why isn’t the city developing them?
“So, from my perspective, and this was almost from the day that I was elected, I followed up with other cities,” said Woznow. “I went to Port Alberni and I saw what they had done with city-owned properties, and the enthusiasm for city council in utilizing them. The chief administrative officer said city council keeps staff running all the time to look at opportunities for utilization of city lands, and they’ve got excellent agreements with the First Nations that are around Port Alberni. So, that’s basically what I have been trying to do in Powell River.”
Woznow said back in 2021, the city was looking at the issue of land utilization and received a $20,000 grant. The city, he said, allocated another $20,000 and paid a consultant $40,000 for a study.
“What the consultant did was look at multiple uses of city-owned land, in categories such as industrial, residential, business and affordable housing,” said Woznow. “He looked at 25 specific properties and indicated these were ones set up for short-term, medium-term or long-term development. A lot of the legwork has been done.”
Woznow said shortly after he was elected in 2022, he wanted to push for a tiny homes program, because he had looked across Canada and the United States at successful programs.
“To me, it just seemed natural, but it never went forward,” said Woznow.
At the June 17 committee of the whole meeting, council heard a presentation from Michael Gelber, who proposed a tiny homes project consisting of 200 tiny homes, aimed at addressing the critical shortage of affordable housing in this community. Gelber’s proposal included the prospect of using city-owned land for the project. Woznow said such a project would not only assist in housing people who have difficulty affording housing, but it would also create jobs.
“Powell River is a perfect location,” said Woznow. “It would create economic development that’s a spinoff to local businesses, and it would add to the range of housing in the community.”
Woznow said it is important for the community to offer an array of housing options for people living here, and for people who want to come here.
“Powell River has never been one thing,” said Woznow. “It has always attracted people with a range of interests, a range of financial backgrounds, et cetera.”
While there has been public opposition to the use of the old arena lands, Woznow said that is just one out of 160. He said it is important to understand that the Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill has shut down, going from several thousand employees years ago, to none now.
“We were once the largest producer of newsprint in the world, but things have changed,” said Woznow. “When things change, you have to have an open mind, even with the old arena site. It’s important to look at concepts, see the total benefits to the community, and then decide.”
While city council has not been receptive to many of Woznow’s ideas, he plans to continue his advocacy.
“Elected officials were elected to develop strategic approaches and then rely on staff to provide the background so that councillors can make good decisions,” said Woznow. “I can’t see that would ever change from my position, given the feedback I’ve received from other mayors.
“When taxes are going to go up 11 or 12 per cent and we have 160 properties that we could use in some manner, I’m pretty sure I’m going to stick with that.”
Woznow said that sale or leasing of city properties could go to reducing taxes, or money could be used to support affordable housing. He said being agreeable to make changes would send a signal to major industry.
“The sale of the last piece of property from Domtar at the old mill site has been completed,” said Woznow. “When a solid business looks at whether or not to come to Powell River to utilize some of these lands, they look at the city as a whole. If they see a track record of council not being able to make pretty simple decisions to have a positive impact on the community, they may just say, well, maybe we’ll go across to Campbell River, Port Alberni or the Comox Valley. That’s a subtle point that is important to remember.”
Woznow said in order to be more efficient with future development, the city needs to add planning staff. He said in talking with other mayors, if development is going to take nine months to get approvals versus four months, it makes a significant difference for developers.
“If we utilized some of our city-owned properties and generated some revenue, then there’s the opportunity to increase the capability of our planning department, so then you have a positive spinoff effect,” said Woznow.
“Our planning department does a fantastic job, but they can only deal with so many projects at a time.”
Woznow said he has been buoyed by the results of the Peak poll, which, he says, is reflective of commentary he’s hearing in the community.
“Everywhere, people approach me and ask: ‘Why aren’t you doing anything,’” said Woznow.
“We’ve had a study done and we’re sitting here three or four years later. People are largely going to say it’s a waste of money, because there is no impediment to making those decisions.”
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