WFN News

BC HOUSING: PROPOSED COUGAR ROAD SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT, OCTOBER 1ST VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE CANCELLED/POSTPONED

October 1, 2020

This notice is to advise that BC Housing has cancelled/postponed their Neighbourhood Virtual Information Session tonight for the Land Use Amendment / Rezoning and proposed supportive housing unit located at 3235 Cougar Road due to an Engagement Freeze directive from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing they received last night.

BC Housing’s Statement:

"BC Housing would like to thank you for your interest in the supportive housing at 3235 Cougar Road on the Westside. Based on new direction received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing on September 30th, BC Housing is postponing this evening’s information session until after the election. We appreciate this is last minute notice and we apologize for any inconvenience. We would like to reassure you that we remain committed to addressing homelessness on the Westside. We look forward to continuing to engage the community on the proposed Cougar Road supportive housing in a few weeks’ time. Meanwhile, if you have any questions about the proposed Cougar Road supportive housing, we would encourage you to check out the Let’s Talk Housing BC Cougar Road page."  ~ BC Housing Communications

Please note that the Land Use Amendment / Rezoning application is still currently active; it is only delayed. This means that instead of public consultation closing on October 9th as previously planned, it will be extended allowing a longer opportunity for Affected Interest Holders, Surrounding Neighbours, and the Advisory Council to provide feedback. Written feedback can still be sent directly to Holli Hyatt at hhyatt@wfn.ca.

WFN Development Services will provide an updated date for BC Housing’s Neighbourhood Virtual Information Session when it becomes available. In addition, we will provide an updated closing date for public consultation feedback when it is finalized. Additional information can be found below.

BC HOUSING: PROPOSED COUGAR ROAD SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT, WFN LANDS - UPDATE IN ADVANCE OF OCTOBER 1st WEBINAR

September 30, 2020

WFN: Info Package
BC Housing: Project Website
Go To Webinar: Registration (Oct 1, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M., "Virtual Neighbourhood Session") - CANCELLED/POSTPONED

Westbank First Nation (WFN) Development Services office received an application for amendment to a property’s Land Use Designation and Zoning for Lot 37-2-2 at 3235 Cougar Road. By resolving to provide initial consideration on September 9, 2020, Council allows for WFN’s Development Services to open up public consultation only at this time for the received application.

For the purposes of constructing permanent supportive housing, the applicant is seeking to utilize a WFN Member property which is proposed to be sub-leased to BC Housing by the current lessee. BC Housing has been working to identify a location on the Westside to support a development of this nature since 2018, and the potential site was recently identified by BC Housing’s real estate team.

WFN’s role in this initiative is specific to the capacity of land use authority only. The proposed project belongs to BC Housing and their partner, Turning Points Collaborative Society, and would be funded exclusively by BC Housing should it be approved.

Consultation packages were issued to all residences within a 300 metre radius of the proposed site on September 11, 2020, and BC Housing will be hosting a Virtual Neighbourhood Information Session on October 1, 2020 beginning at 6:00 p.m. All interested residents are encouraged to attend and provide feedback for further Council consideration. To register for this opportunity, click here.

At this time, no approvals have been issued for the rezoning, land use amendment, or proposed development. Following consultation, WFN will further consider the matter along with the feedback received.

All residents are encouraged to contact Holli Hyatt in writing by October 9, 2020 to provide feedback regarding the proposed amendment, zoning, and project.