The elimination of public hearings for certain residential developments is not sitting well with two West 麻豆精选 councillors.
New provincial legislation prohibits public hearings for residential housing developments that are consistent with a municipality鈥檚 Official Community Plan.
During council鈥檚 Tuesday (Feb. 27) meeting Coun. Stephen Johnston called it 鈥渓azy legislation and a strong-arm tactic鈥� by the provincial government.
鈥淭his is a reaction to the housing crisis not the cause of it. But I鈥檓 supporting it because council has no choice. We can鈥檛 run the risk of not supporting it and having someone come in and make these decisions for us.鈥�
Coun. Rick de Jong called the NDP鈥檚 sweeping housing legislation a 鈥渂oondoggle.鈥�
鈥淚 had another word but I can鈥檛 say that at the table because of our council ethics policy. This is the loss of public voice at the table. It is simply wrong.鈥�
He also praised city staff as it continues to deal with legislative changes.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to work within the framework the province has slammed at us while still trying to carry council鈥檚 vision forward. That鈥檚 admirable.鈥�
The changes won鈥檛 apply to all residential developments council heard.
鈥淚f less than half the project is residential, our existing public hearing process鈥till applies,鈥� explained Brent Magnan, director of development approvals.
He added that the public will still have the opportunity to provide written comments to council when it initially considers a development.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 not doing away with the ability for the public to have a say, it鈥檚 the form of which they are having a say that is a bit different.鈥�
Councillors De Jong, Carol Zannon and Garrett Millsap voted against required bylaw changes to the public hearing process, while Mayor Gord Milsom and Councillors Jason Friesen, Tasha Da Silva, and Stephen Johnston voted in favour.
READ MORE: 鈥業t鈥檚 insane鈥�: West 麻豆精选 council concerned about housing legislation workload
READ MORE: West 麻豆精选 resort accommodations safe from short-term rental changes for now
