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City drops out of Corfield lawsuit, BC Housing steps in

Judge rules to make BC Housing a respondent in petition over rezoning for supportive housing project
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This early design image for 222 Corfield St. South shows what the supportive housing building could look like. — Courtesy BC Housing

BC Housing has been made a respondent to the petition against the rezoning of 222 Corfield lands for the supportive housing project in Parksville.

In fact, they are now the only respondent.

The City of Parksville confirmed it has withdrawn its objection to the petition, which questions the legality of the city’s own rezoning process. “I can let you know the city is no longer involved in the court case,” the city’s manager of communications, Deb Tardiff quoted CAO Debbie Comis as saying in an email.

Asked why the city decided to drop its objection to the petition, Tardiff said neither she nor other staff with the city could comment.

Parksville mayor Ed Mayne, asked about the addition of BC Housing as a respondent, said that he had declared a conflict of interest and so could not comment.

BC Housing’s only comment on the matter was to confirm that it and the Provincial Housing Corporation “are joined as respondents to the petition regarding rezoning of the 222 Corfield lands for the supportive housing project.”

The petition was made by Ron Chiovetti, Adam Fras (now a Parksville councillor), Doug O’Brien (now a councillor), Melanie Van Der Stock, and Berwick Retirement Communities Ltd.

It was sent to court Aug. 3, well before a new council was elected Oct. 20.