Access to properties and smaller homes

Tom Stere

Yes, zoning amendments can be changed to allow for micro-neighbourhoods.

I would  propose minimum square footage size be reduced and allow for the creation of mixed use neighbourhoods.

 I would support working with developers to examine zoning, where it would be appropriate, to zone for smaller lot sizes (to bring the cost of land down) with the understanding that these properties would be for the local housing market.

Stephen Ashton

I absolutely support smaller properties, small homes and if necessary, off the grid to reduce the costs of utilities.

Stephanie Hughes

I plan to support and build on the hard work that has already been done by Mayor and Council, the Tofino Housing Corporation and District staff.  There is a momentum for Tofino to consider alternatives like micro neighbourhoods of small homes (800-1,000-ft. Square) and I promise to support and encourage designs that include green space, retention of original habitat, multi-generational neighbourhoods, and are affordable. By-laws and zoning changes are a foundational part of the process in order to keep moving towards a progressive community that answers to its current populations housing needs in 2018.  This issue affects so many of us that live here, myself included.

Josie Osborne

I support the concept of smaller lots and small homes*. While not exactly “small lots,” Fellowship Drive, Lone Cone, Ocean Park and Yew Wood are all great examples of family-friendly neighborhoods that provided affordable lots to local families at the time of their subdivision and development. They each had a patient and persistent owner/developer behind them. Tofino needs a new family-friendly neighborhood, but again this will take a willing landowner(s) to undergo rezoning and subdivision of a larger piece of property, with serious discussion about whether short-term rental would be permitted and whether the developer will take a “locals-first” sales approach (this could be overcome if the owners were a group of locals!). Even with smaller lot sizes, the cost of land and servicing is a tough obstacle to overcome for affordability. We need creativity, open minds, patience and some good research in thinking about issues like ownership structure, parking requirements, and infrastructure costs.

* Note that a zoning bylaw amendment currently underway and awaiting fourth and final reading will – if adopted – remove the minimum house footprint size currently in place.

Jason Brown

There was some really great points and solutions offered at the all candidates meeting regarding this issue that I think would be well worth pursuing.  Affordable housing is a crisis in this town that needs to be addressed immediately to help the loss of great people and families from this community.  I would be happy to support a plan for a tiny home community and would research all the options for bylaws to help achieve it.  I think tiny home villages would be well suited to our community as the majority of us living here have moved here to experience the bountiful nature and beauty of this place and I see tiny homes as the best way for us to achieve that.

Jarmo Venalainen

We can build affordable properties.  Affordable means simple, like pre-built or smaller.  We need to allow that and can do so if that is the desire of the community. Once desire is established, bylaws are and were made by people to express the will of people, so since they can be changed.  The fact is, affordable housing is a need which the mayor and council can continuously address. Indeed, that is being worked on even now, but the current proposal from the district of Tofino will not produce affordable homes.  That’s because the district is making deals and considering subsidies.  If it’s a deal or subsidized it’s not affordable.  To achieve affordable housing, we need to 1) identify how many homes are needed, 2) identify what they can look like, 3) make land available, and 4) build them.

Eric Kingsley

I think that changing the bylaws to allow for micro neighbourhoods and tiny homes is a great idea. The only concern that I have would be access to utilities. Our current infrastructure is lacking for the housing we already have, adding new units without updating the utilities infrastructure could compound other problems we have like water shortages and power outages. 
Now I am not poo poo-ing this idea by any means. I fully support those who would opt for the minimalist lifestyle of tiny and small homes. This is a completely viable option for this town as long as it is implemented responsibly.

Duncan McMaster

All of Tofino is all ready zoned and the majority of the lots privately owned. To create smaller lots requires the property owners to apply for re-zoning. This application has to go through public process and the views of the neighbourhood respected, which may or may not be in favour.
On lots that the District does own such as DL 114 the possibility does exist to create some smaller lots. However the cost of servicing such lots due to terrain challenges may make them unaffordable.
Ideally a group of individuals would gather together to collectively purchase a parcel of land, likely forming a co-operative. If the group applied to rezone, I am confident that the application would be reviewed favourably.

Dorothy Baert

Currently one can build a 750sq ft minimum home but people have been asking for more options such as micro homes. With broad community input the Official Community Plan (OCP) is currently being re-written and updated; this will inform zoning bylaws and could allow more flexibility in housing sizes. I like the idea of cluster housing, and micro neighbourhoods but ultimately, it is up to the community, through the OCP,  to determine acceptable levels of density and growth.

Craig Heber

Council must change direction to tackle the long standing housing crisis in Tofino. Bylaws must be changed to allow for Micro Green Homes and create solutions that meet the needs of all residents not those that rely on 20th Century norms for housing. Bylaw changes must ensure that these rentals or properties are 'Green', Affordable and are never allowed to be used as short term rentals ever.

Chris Heisterman

Yes, bylaws can be changed to allow micro neighbourhoods. This would be a long process, but it can be done and an option to help remedy our housing crisis. I feel that what’s more important, and would get more small homes built quickly is to allow the larger more rural properties to build more (built to code) dwellings so long as they are strictly zoned for residents.

Britt Chalmers

I am a big supporter of smaller homes and solutions that come from outside the box thinking.  I feel a variety of smaller housing plans as opposed to one big project is the direction we should take.

Andrea McQuade

This seems like a simple question! I’m sure everyone wants to answer yes, but questions of water, services, (sewage!) all have to be considered. Everything has to grow and mature in tandem in Tofino right now and making decisions about high density high resource neighbourhoods requires commensurate questions about resource allocation. We can’t ask half the question, because on the other side of 800 sq/f homes are still questions of access, taxation and growth. We have to be creative, and we have to be thorough.

Al Anderson

Council needs to continue the work of the Tofino Housing Corporation and work with private developers to address the whole range of housing needs that have been identified in the District of Tofinos " Housing Needs Assessments". While small lots and tiny house are being called for and should be considered this only meets the needs of some Tofitians and is only part of a solution. Zoning of all sorts can be created to accommodate any type of housing the building code will allow. Single family and tiny homes have a very high environmental footprint, the highest of all types of housing, so higher density must be looked at in order to keep environmental and all costs lower.