Minutes - March 13th

Minutes

FVSG

13 March 2008, Fulford Hall, 3-5 pm

Core Group Members Present: Margaret Day, John Moore, John Rowlandson (chair), Ron Bain, Larry Woods (secretary)

Community Reference Group Members Present: David O’Flynn, Ted Bowland, Johan Gerritsen, Stan Shapiro

Community Members Present: Janice Gauthier, Gary Holman (CRD)

Regrets: Alan Goldin

[NB: All decisions taken by consensus.]

1. Adoption of agenda, including under Other Business: 1) Next meetings; 2) Waste Water; and 3) Fulford Profile.
2. Adoption of Minutes of 6 March meeting.
3. Chair’s Report: 22 vision statements re: Fulford in 2025 have been received from Fulford School children.  Thanks to Mr. Lightfoot’s class.
4. The Built Environment: Janice Gauthier spoke on the affordable housing on Salt Spring and in Fulford.  She is associated with the Murakami and Abbeyfield projects.  At present, all affordable housing projects are in Ganges.  She stressed the need on South End. Common community concerns re: safety, traffic, water, need for energy efficiency were discussed.  There are creative solutions.  BC Housing and Natural Resources Canada will provide funding for these sorts of projects.  Incomes on SSI are 15-20% lower than elsewhere in province and homelessness is an issue.  80% of market can afford a house of $250,000, while median list price is $800,000.  40% are spending 30% on housing.  Abbeyfield was discussed (to accommodate 10 seniors; might include a medical clinic open to public).  Habitat for Humanity option discussed.  Focus Group recommendations were noted and Janice supported the initiatives suggested.  Gary Holman noted that the Trust housing task force is exploring new ideas and the approval process could address various concerns.  Salt Spring taxpayers pay into a regional housing trust fund from which the Murakami and Grandma’s House projects have benefited.  A local fund could complement this.  The idea of minimalist housing was raised, as was the preference for building housing on SSI for people already living on SSI.  The latter can be done.  Janice indicated that the business community is concerned about housing for workers, but nothing is yet happening in this area.  The OCP talks of ability to change lot sizes for affordable housing in Fulford and nearby.  Questions about what nearby means were asked.  Janice noted that the Islands Trust is working on a housing needs assessment, sponsored by real estate association.  The school board and Abbeyfield are also involved.  This assessment should be available in about 6 months.  Using Fulford School for housing would be a sign of dwindling community in her view and is to be avoided if possible.  There is already strong political support for rezoning for affordable housing.  We may wish to comment on suites on SSI and if homeowners in Fulford can have suites.  We may wish to emphasize rental over owned, as the market does not provide or build rental housing.
5. John M presented working paper covering historical geography and natural environment.  Gary noted need to consider issue of storm drains and septic systems running off into harbour, tree cutting rules, and interface fire issues.  Do these issues need to be among development permit (DP) requirements?  Should Fulford have its own DP?
6. Requests for information from Trust: Maps have been received.  They still require interpretation re: boundary.  A build-out table was also received.  Gary indicated the CRD’s toll-free number is 1-800-663-4425.
7. Question Period: Could we propose no changes to Fulford at this time, while undertaking a detailed study of the next year?  Could the immediate need of Trustees be satisfied by proposing a freeze?  Can we do justice to all issues in next three weeks?  These questions would be taken up under new business.
8. Built Environment: The Chair introduced a list of guiding questions. What infrastructure needs to be upgraded for existing village?  Given state of infrastructure in village now, isn’t far more time needed to think things through?  Undeveloped lots accentuate problem.  But what is Fulford? Or should we consider everyone on SSI as part of Fulford?  Should we know responsibilities and costs before we define boundaries?  It was agreed we would respond to questions on email and John/Ron will synthesize for discussion at next meeting before we discuss Infrastructure and Open House idea.  Should we be at Fulford Flea Market, 29 March?
9. Next week (27 March) we will begin at 1:30 pm.  We will look at position paper and Focus Group recommendations (agree, agree with amendment, study further, and set aside).
10. Margaret reported on her demographic profile/survey of Fulford children, historical buildings, built/unbuilt lots, lots for sale, and businesses.
11. Ron introduced his draft paper on water and waste-water approaches.
12. Adjourned 5:35 pm.

 

LW