Housing in Penticton is looking like it will dominate the city council meeting this week, with an extensive report set for an overview at the top of the meeting.
That report, spanning over 135 pages, looks at everything from housing stock by neighbourhood and affordable housing to housing “suitability and adequacy,” or how many residents are living in spots too small for their families.
According to the Housing Needs Assessment authors, Urbanics Consultants out of Vancouver, the city’s approximately 660 units of affordable housing falls short of the need by about 230 units.
“There is a current need for roughly 900 units (including beds and dwelling units) or 5.6 per cent of the total housing stock, which is likely to rise in (the) future with deteriorating affordability,” the report says.
Beyond housing, Tuesday’s meeting is looking like a shorter one, with three mayoral proclamations to be read aloud, including recognition of elder abuse awareness day, and just three regular agenda items.
That includes an unspecified “parking update” — the council agenda provides exactly zero details further than those two words on that item. Another item calls for injunctive action against a slow-moving developer on Front Street.
The city will also be considering alterations to its agreement with the regional district for the Campbell Mountain landfill, including a reduction of environmental impairment insurance by half, from $6 million to $3 million.
That, a council report says, will save the city and regional district around $50,000.
Finally, city council is also expected to hear from the public on three items during public hearings for a duo of duplex projects and an Interior Health medical building.
