CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown says inroads are being made on creating more accessible and affordable housing in the city.
In a year-end interview with The Guardian on Monday, Brown said he believes that’s the biggest story of the year in the capital.
According to statistics the city provided, the dollar value for building construction is $57 million as of the end of November, up 60 per cent compared to the end of November 2018. With only residential construction factored in, the dollar value for building construction is $23.4 million as of the end of November, up 66 per cent compared to numbers up to the end of November in 2018.
“We’ve seen a big jump in work that’s going on throughout the city,’’ Brown said. “Is that all affordable and accessible (housing)? No, it’s a mix of both market and non-market, but it’s adding to the inventory and that’s what we have to do, continue to add to the inventory.’’
There’s also progress being made on student housing. The mayor points to a new residence at UPEI the province is helping out with that will add 250 to 300 beds, as well as plans for a 60-unit residence by adding two floors to the building on Prince Street that also houses The Guardian newspaper, and a building on the waterfront that will house 100 students.
Much of the student housing will also cater to short-term rentals, and that alone was a big topic of conversation in the city in 2019. City council is currently soliciting feedback on short-term rentals with the goal of putting together a bylaw sometime in the early spring.
“We’ve already started the process. We’re a little behind but we’re doing our due diligence to ensure that we hear from all the parties.’’
Just before Christmas, council met with the group advocating for short-term rental owners. Council has also been invited to speak with the UPEI student union and Brown hopes to meet with student representatives at Holland College.
Brown also notes that the province and federal government play a big part in funding affordable housing projects. The city’s role, he says, is to facilitate the development through its zoning and development bylaw.
“We have a $250,000 permit-relief option so if you’re building affordable and accessible housing, we’ll waive your permits, we’ll allow for height density, parking variances, sideback and everything else that relates to building affordable and accessible housing.
“The provincial and federal governments are the two levels of government that have the funds to provide the money to developers or to build on their own.’’
Brown said things are moving in the right direction but there’s still a lot of work to do.
“(Our work) is not done until we find that our vacancy rate is no longer .02 per cent. That’s the goal.’’
The mayor believes the newly-reinstated Charlottetown Area Development Corporation (CADC) will play an integral role in developing affordable housing, although the province has yet to name the six representatives who will represent government on the new board.
“That group will help us assist in developing properties for affordable and accessible housing, not just in Charlottetown but in Stratford and Cornwall as well. CADC is a big win for the whole capital region.’’
Another highlight from this past year, Brown said the city asked citizens to volunteer to sit on various standing committees and received more than 400 applications — a new record.
Moving ahead, Brown noted that an organizational review of city administration is still on the to-do list, with Coun. Mitchell Tweel bringing it up recently at a public meeting. Other priorities include lobbying to return P.E.I. to a one-employment insurance zone; replacing the Cody Banks and Simmons arenas; receiving a consultant’s report on a search for funding for a new multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex; and finding money to move forward on the roundabout at Brackley, St. Peters and Belvedere roads.
One other thing taxpayers will be keeping an eye on is the remuneration and benefits commission, which will produce a report on salaries for the mayor and council. Brown said he isn’t paid as a full-time mayor (even though the salary is $65,500) and isn’t looking for more money. He said to make the mayor and councillors’ salaries full time would cost the city an extra $500,000 a year.
Brown is also holding to his campaign process of pushing council to pass a resolution holding mayors to no more than two terms.
A sample of some of the municipal news in Charlottetown in 2019:
January
- City applies federal money to purchase 18 new transit buses.
- City applies for $58 million in federal funding for water and sewer work, including upgrades to treatment plant. Year ends with plant accepting waste water from Stratford.
February
- Engineering firm conducts study on proposed Fitzroy Street bike lane. Bike lane is later scrapped.
March
- City passes capital budget that includes $75,000 for engineering and testing work for Sherwood roundabout project that has yet to happen.
April
- Annual budget calls for 32-cent-per-day increase in water and sewer rates.
- Budget also allots additional $1 million for paving.
May
- Tourism officer Laurel Lea receives national tourism award.
- City begins soliciting public input for short-term rental bylaw.
- City creates remuneration and allowance commission to review salary of mayor, councillors.
June
- City hosts heavily-attended public meeting on short-term rental bylaw issue.
- Council decides to proceed with floating dock at Victoria Park.
- Council creates multi-use facility funding model subcommittee.
July
- City decides to go with three fire stations rather than close Sherwood station when new one is built.
- Union representing firefighters says there is a need for additional personnel.
August
- City decides against enforcing metered parking to 6 p.m.
- City launches single-use plastic reduction survey.
September
- Fire department works to get barbecues off of apartment patios following devastating fire on Harley Street.
- Tender closes on sidewalk project that will connect Red Shores parking lot with front of Eastlink Centre.
October
- City to spend $500,000 on a bike/pedestrian pathway connecting Queen Elizabeth Hospital with St. Peters Road.
- Dave McGrath officially retires as GM of Eastlink Centre but agrees to stay on until replacement named. He has since left the job and no replacement has been named.
November
- Group of short-term rental operators decide to form an association to advocate for their cause.
- Beth Hoar, the city’s long-time parkland conservationist, retires.
December
- Officials with Jack Frost Winterfest announce event will leave Charlottetown Event Grounds and be spread throughout the downtown.
- City supports resolution calling on the province to give police authority to seize drug properties.
