Thursday, January 28, 2010

Jan. 28 2009

Good evening, I have volunteered to sit on the District of Tofino Development Cost Charge committee...hopefully council can be convinced to repeal the legislation that imposed these ridiculous charges on existing lots.....anyone interested can volunteer by contacting Carol Gagne at gagne@tofino.ca
Thanks to Mayor John Fraser for meeting with Parks Canada about establishing a multi-use path in the park.....it would be great if the path went at least as far as Long Beach.....

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Jan. 27 , 2009

Good morning, sorry for the lack of reports......on the DCC issue....the DCCs are still under review.....apparently the district will allow you to build without paying the $18,000.00 charge if you enter into an agreement to pay whatever amount they arrive at after the review.....some builders are entering into these agreements while others are more wary......
In the Koers engineering report it states that : " DCCs for single family residential development would be collected at the subdivision stage"
I was at the meeting where this bylaw was discussed and it was presented there that the DCCs would not apply to existing residential lots......somehow this was changed when the bylaw was approved......it would be very simple for council to amend the bylaw to exempt existing single family residential lots ......

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Haiti relief effort

I know this isn't local politics but if you have any spare money please consider making a donation to the Red Cross or one of the other organizations helping in Haiti. Go to www.cbc.ca for a list of groups helping in Haiti....thanks,Ralph

Thursday Jan 14 2009

Sorry I don't have an update on the Pacific Sands development.....I was unable to attend the meeting.....I'll try to get some info from them......
Just spoke to Jim Schwartz of the Tofino Housing Corporation.....apparently matters concerning the THC were discussed at a secret council meeting (in camera) .....no information as to the status of the THC was made available to Mr. Schwartz or the public.......as it is now after 1pm I won't be able to ask at the District Office.......if anyone knows please write in....

Saturday, January 9, 2010

January 9, 2010

Seems there won't be a byelection afterall......the public washrooms at Cox Bay have been closed for several weeks.......don't know if this is a cost-cutting measure or a technical issue......

Friday, January 8, 2010

January 8, 2010

Good morning.....assessments are out.....the general concensus in Tofino is that property values have dropped considerably.....is this the effect of the high DCCs and water rates ?? Is it from a lack of confidence in a regime that prefers to fund parking lot beautification instead of water infrastructure......???
Kudos to the Public Works dept. for fixing the ramp at the Whiskey Dock.....
Nobody seems to know the status of the Tofino Housing Corporation......hundreds of thousands of tax dollars spent and now there is an oversupply of rental housing in the private sector.....
A new strata plan is being proposed for the Pacific Sands property at Cox Bay....this is good news as it will trigger section 75(1)(C)(i) of the Land Title Act which provides for public access to the waterfront........I'll have a full report on Tuesday afternoon....
If there are any stories that you feel need publishing please forward them to me......thanks,Ralph

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Jan.2 2010

Happy New Year !! not much news in Tofino over the holidays......stay tuned