By Erin Knutson

The City of Fernie council voted unanimously at a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting in favour of moving ahead with a blanket rezoning that would promote the action plan ‘Stronger BC Homes for People Plan’ set out by the province to help mitigate the housing crisis.

“An R1B blanket rezoning would be a benefit if it became common in single-family zoned properties in Fernie, then a potential increase in uptake of secondary dwelling units would increase the long term-rent rental fabric and help to alleviate the market rental shorting in Fernie,” said Manager of Planning Derek Cimolini in a report to council.

Concerns over the challenges of accommodating new units were weighed by mayor and council over a lengthy discussion regarding how the move would affect the current infrastructure of the areas rezoned including the ability of water and sanitation resources to handle additional units and occupants as well as parking, snow removal, and the overall affects to the neighbourhood with the transition.

Cimolini highlighted the potential for this new rezoning to ease the construction process for homeowners and builders, save city staff time delegating, while alleviating some of the current problems with the efficiency of creating affordable housing.

“Even though the R1 and R1B zones both allow for long-term rental units to be constructed, with the R1B zone, especially on developed properties, it is easier to develop the rental unit,” he said.

According to Cimolini a blanket rezoning would be less restrictive and allow homeowners on a flood plain for example to create a secondary suite above the garage, freeing up resources, utilizing space and benefitting both tenants and homeowners.

The Fernie Official Community Plan (OCP) will be under review this year giving the city the opportunity to bring this initiative forward, receive feedback from the public, and create language in the OCP to move ahead with the zoning.

“Neighbourhood concerns will be heard, and we will get a feel for the fabric of community and move forward on a base that might help us to mold the language in the bylaw to minimize neighbourhood impact,” said Cimolini.

Determining the details of the integration of the rezoning and defining the language of the plan were top priorities for mayor and council; however, it was suggested that impacts of the change would not strain the existing infrastructure.

“Moving forward it’s important to understand the tools at our disposal to make the decision,” said Mayor Nic Milligan.

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

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