Some Nanoose Bay residents living in a manufactured home park are concerned about the future of their homes.
The park, 15 acres located at 2465 Apollo Dr., is currently up for sale. There are 99 units on the property.
Residents are concerned about the future of the park and the impact it might have on their lives.
Joe Martino appeared as a delegation at the Electorial Area Services Committee (EASC) meeting on Aug. 5 and shared the residents' concerns. He said some residents fear they are going to lose their retirement place and nest eggs if the park is sold.
Martino said the property is designated as a manufactured home park but claimed the land could be rezoned as it is situated near the Red Gap Village Centre that is zoned for high density residential and commercial purposes.
Martino said he did some research and found the regulations in B.C. regarding protection for tenants, who pay a fee to live in the park, to be somewhat scant. Tenant advocates in BC worked hard over the last six years to get legislation through the province to better protect tenants.
"It's a segment of affordable housing we'd hate to lose," said Martino. "And that's one of the main issues. So, my hope is for today is to draw attention to the situation that we've got, an affordable housing that could vanish in the district ,and suggest enhancements to safeguard against the potential loss of this existing housing segment, and strengthen the protection of those vulnerable in the community."
Martino presented a recommended policy to the ESAC for the RDN board to consider that may assist tenants facing displacement because of potential redevelopment of manufactured home parks within the district.
Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) director Leanne Salter supported the suggestion to have the RDN staff review at its current policy.
The ESAC chair and Electoral Area E (Nanoose Bay) director Bob Rogers informed Martino the RDN is currently in the process of amending zoning Bylaw 500 which regulates the use of land, buildings and structures in five of the seven electoral areas.
"This has the potential to be part of that in the future, in different phases, of that," said Rogers. "But at this time, we have nothing in our work plans and so on with respect to it and it would not be immediate that we would be addressing this. It would be further on sometime within the work plan for the RDN."
Electoral Area H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay) director Stuart McLean made a motion that a review of the manufactured home park redevelopment tenant assistance policy be undertaken during phase two of the bylaw 500 update project. It was unanimously supported by the committee.
