After many years of discussion, the Town of Osoyoos will be forming an affordable housing society.
Veteran town councillor Michael Ryan has volunteered to be the town’s representative on the volunteer society, which will be made up of community volunteers.
Following a staff report and discussion during Monday’s meeting of town council, Coun. Sue McKortoff also volunteered to be an alternate representative for the town once the committee is formed in the coming months.
In accordance with the town’s business plan, it was revealed Monday that staff will be posting an Invitation of Interest (EOI) for purchase and residential development of the town-owned Richter Property, located on the west side of Hwy. 97.
It will be the selected developer’s responsibilities to include setting aside 15 per cent of the approximately 40 homes that are scheduled to eventually be developed for low-income families.
The long-term plan is to allow the development of as many as 300 residences, which would include single-family homes, townhouses and multi-family dwellings as well as the units for low-income earners.
“These near-market affordable units would be for sale at a discounted price to targeted working households, especially younger families,” said Alain Cunningham, the town’s director of planning and development services.
“The affordable units would be managed by an affordable housing society/authority based on community volunteers, which … is currently being formed.”
The community plan to develop the Southeast Meadowlark Area Plan was approved by council in 2010 and contained a clause that a “suitable non-profit society to assist with targeting the delivery of affordable units to qualified recipients, including maintaining an eligibility list” be established.
At the start of the current council term, Ryan volunteered to take on issues relating to affordable housing as his personal project, said Cunningham.
Accordingly, it is recommended council formally recognize him as council’s representative for setting up and sitting on an affordable housing society, with Cunningham available as a resource person.
The terms of reference to be developed collaboratively by Councillor Ryan and director Cunningham would address key issues or purpose and scope, membership and recruitment of community volunteers, including reaching out to members of the previous Affordable Housing Task Force, as well as operational procedures.
Ryan and Cunningham will examine the formation of a similar non-profit affordable housing initiative established in Mountain View California.
McKortoff said having Ryan play an integral role on this affordable housing initiative makes a lot of sense as Ryan has been interested in this issue for many years and he has a passion to establish affordable housing units in this community.
Mayor Stu Wells agreed and said he’s very pleased an affordable housing society will finally be established in this community.
“It’s refreshing to see we’re at the point that we’re moving forward with this,” said Wells.
Ryan said he’s very excited about the formation of the society and being the town’s representative.
“It’s exciting and I’m really looking forward to this,” he said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
