The Regional District of Nanaimo plans to let the provincial government know the new Bill 44 Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation is not feasible to the electoral areas, due to multiple specific infrastructure and water agreements.
The RDN board wants the B.C. government to know the complications the regional district faces to meet the requirements of Bill 44 to amend its zoning bylaw to allow secondary suites in residential homes.
Staff reported only properties in the Growth Containment Boundary and lands within an area serviced by community water and sewer provided by the RDN or a municipality will be able to meet the requirements of Bill 44. Some parts of Area E (Nanoose Bay) and Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) will not be able to comply as they are served by a private water purveyor.
At its regular meeting on Nov. 26, it was recommended the chair write a letter on behalf of the RDN board explaining its situation and the complexity of the situation.
"This isn't us necessarily pushing back to the province" said Area G director Lehann Wallace. "This is us helping them understand the uniqueness of the situation of the multiple water agreements from the municipalities and between the municipalities and the electoral areas. That is the complexity of the situation."
Wallace added that by opening a discussion with the province, the regional district is also showing good faith it is working on complying with the Bill 44 direction.
The RDN has already applied for an extension in completing its zoning amendments. Staff explained "compliance is likely to increase risk to public health, safety or the environment." The additional developments, staff cited, will cause insufficient water supply concerns.
Currently, the Sandpiper community in Electoral Area G has an agreement with the Town of Qualicum Beach to provide water to the area but it entails a condition that no additional connections will be added.
Qualicum Beach Mayor and director Teunis Westbroek explained they are concerned about the ability to provide water to their own community as they are experienced major growth. One of the big project is the Pheasant Glenn Resort project that will feature 227 units and other developments now happening in town.
"We are concerned about making water available for additional growth in Area G," said Westbroek. "I think the minister, hopefully, would be a little bit more sympathetic."
The board passed the recommendation to write a letter to the province explaining the situation.
