Question 4

Tom Stere

Yes, I believe that housing  projects can be more low key and respectful. The District of Tofino has the ability and responsibility to guide projects in the right direction to meet with the environmental integrity that the residents of Tofino have come to expect.

Stephen Ashton

I’m a long term director of the Friends of Clayoquot Sound so am very aware of the need for urban forests and the value that they bring residents.  I feel the Tonquin project should demonstrate this value to the fullest.

Stephanie Hugues

I strongly believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the land.  It is my belief that there are some areas that should be free from development.  The Tonquin property is one of these areas.  It connects critical habitat along the outer coast and this corridor should remain in tact in perpetuity.  There are other options for development in Tofino that should be creatively explored.  I will advocate for housing that respects natural surroundings and habitat for other species.

Josie Osborne

The Tofino Housing Corporation is proposing to build up to 55 units of mixed-type housing, with a portion of these developed in partnership with the Tofino Bible Fellowship. The exact mix of rental and ownership housing is not yet determined, but the key point is that they be offered at prices affordable for Tofino wages. In keeping with the environmental values of the site and to keep construction costs down, a clustered approach is being proposed (multi-family units, apartments buildings) rather than single family lots – this minimizes tree removal. There is gap between the cost to build homes and monthly payments that most Tofitians can afford; this project is realistic provided that enough senior government assistance is available to keep the final prices affordable.

Jason Brown

I do support the Tofino Housing Corporation's project being undertook on DL 114.  We need affordable housing and I believe this project can be completed in a manner that the majority of the forest we all love can still be preserved in a suitable manner. I truly believe that there is a way to develop this project the right way and preserve the forest we love and provide housing for residents,  I will be committed to pushing for a developer that will put preserving the natural beauty and splendour of Tonquin Park at the forefront of their development plans. With the rising cost of land, having the benefit of municipally owned land cannot be overlooked.

Jarmo Venalainen

I personally don’t think delicate, riparian land is coherent with low cost housing.  Even suggesting the use of riparian land for low cost housing is a bad idea in and of itself.  Low cost housing has always been and needs to go on low cost land which is not encumbered with complex development costs.  High cost housing can afford to have a salmon bearing creek next to it, not low cost housing.

Eric Kingsley

I truly believe that housing projects, and development projects of all kinds, could be done more respectfully and carefully with consideration to the natural environment.  As far as this proposed housing project near Tonquin goes. It is difficult to say how realistic the idea is. I mean housing will be built, what shape it takes, where it lands and how it gets there are different stories. There is a great deal of land already cleared around town but I am not fully aware of how much of that land is actually owned by the district.  If elected to council I would make it a point to encourage the utilization of already cleared lands over clearing forest. I would also ensure the new Tonquin housing project was built as responsibly as possible IF that IS where this project will land.

Duncan McMaster

DL 114 by Tonquin Park is the only property that the Tofino Housing Corporation owns. Recent survey work has revealed just how challenging the terrain is limiting the amount of suitable building sites. Therefore the large portions of the property will remain untouched.
I believe the project is realistic as to whether it will be affordable remains to be seen. More work has yet to be done and the project will be largely dependent on government housing grants.
The recent announcement that MRDT funds from online booking agents such as AirBnB can be used for affordable housing project is going to be a great help.
If the project is determined to be unaffordable, as an asset of the Housing Corporation I believe DL 114 would be sold and the resultant funds used elsewhere; maybe land purchase or home purchase.

Dorothy Baert

We can’t know if DL114 is viable for affordable, price restricted housing until the pre-development assessment work is done and costs are more fully known. The Tofino Housing Corporation is presently undertaking that work. The District owns this land which means it has more likelihood of being affordable. As more information becomes available options for housing units or affordable lot sales can be assessed. The neighbourhood at Peterson Drive was once District land that was subdivided for housing. 
As for green spaces, work needs to be done to assess and prioritize what should be preserved from development. With support, an organization like the former Natural Heritage Society could assist in identifying priorities for conservation such as creating or expanding Parks, protecting the krumholtz, rock bluffs, individual trees, etc.

Craig Heber

Tonquin Park as currently envisioned will do little to address housing shortage as those houses will be unaffordable to most residents enduring precarious housing now.

Council can ensure no more big trees are removed and redesign project so that more homes that are small and design lots so that homes fit among existing natural features, No more clear cutting to make cookie cutter 20th Century neighbourhoods like on Gibson Street with its lone small tree left standing.

Chris Heisterman

Yes, this project is realistic, it comes down to how much is willing/available/needed to be spent. Currently THC is looking at DL114 (Tonquin Park) and Sharp Road (near Dolphin Motel) to build their affordable housing project. The physical land of both properties offer their own challenges to building. The current plan for Sharp Road is a much easier build, more low key and would unfortunately house less residents. However Sharp Road could be an excellent precursor for more affordable housing developments. I support a publicly backed development, but I do feel it distracts the district from taking other avenues to remedy our housing crisis.

Britt Chalmers

I have some concerns regarding DL114 however I am not fully opposed to it. I think the scope is too large and the lack of consideration for parking is a problem. At the open house they were using the term “low income housing” and therefore only one parking stall per unit has been supplied, this worries me that the developer does not grasp the needs of the community nor realizes the extend the lack of parking would creating for surrounding neighbourhoods.  As well, while the plans are for beautiful buildings, I worry that the end result will not be affordable.  I greatly appreciate that the Tofino Bible fellowship has come to the table to work with the district on building housing and I think we can come up with a solution. There was a lot of feedback from the last open house so I am looking forward to hearing how much of it has been taken into consideration. 
I strongly believe that smaller diverse projects are the direction we should be going.

Andrea McQuade

I believe that preservation happens through education, that people who love this place and its resources (the wild rivers, the ocean, the salmon, the mountains) are moved to keep it the way that it is. But the truth is that we are growing.  We have to find a balance. We have to find a way to encourage that preservation through the next generation. We inspire so much passion, and we need to find a way to keep that passion here or we run the risk of losing not only those currently dedicated to preservation, but their children too. Education is a long game, and so is preservation. If we don’t retain those people, we run the risk of having a community full of people who don’t ask which trees to keep, which land to leave. There are certainly creative and beautiful ways to grow - we can develop and evolve in a sustainable manner. But we have to decide what that looks like and ensure that either preservation or development is never our sole directive. Walking a careful line between the two will be the key to ensuring Tofino looks and feels like you want it to - too far in either direction and it becomes lose lose.

Al Anderson

Yes I think this project is realistic. I know of no land owned by the District that is already cleared. This area has already been developed by the District creating the lots directly in front of there on Peterson Drive. If one looks at our OCP or past processes the land there has long been considered as the most accessible piece owned and available to the District. When making affordable lots it is important to keep the cost of servicing new lots low, therefore linking to nearby utilities. The development plan for this area is gong through rigorous environmental assessment and will deliver the best possible results. Not everyone will be like to see trees come down any space cleared for people to live. I would be glad to consider viable alternatives should they come forward.