Council and staff support vacation rentals over long term housing.This article is a cruel joke to those seeking housing.Enjoy your stay in one of Tofino's many ghetto campgrounds.
I wouldn't say they support vacation rentals. Tofino has by far the highest licensing fees for short term rentals in all of BC and possibly Canada. Why don't private developers build affordable housing? Because construction costs are so high that recouping the investment one must charge rents that are not affordable, amongst other barriers of entry. Did the last commenter even read the article? There were some interesting points there. Blaming foreign investors and short term rentals instead of a global trend in speculative investment in real estate is quite misleading but seems to be a popular scapegoat for unaffordability. Can one blame local homeowners in using short term rentals as a means to help them pay off mortgages? Land value has gone up much faster than stagnant wages, inflation, etc. To think that a small municipal government has any clout in comparison to global trends is ignorant. The federal government has not been able to do anything about as well as the provincial. How can our small budget even start to do something. Maybe an incentive such as a grant for encouraging long term rentals over short term may be a start but that is just a drop in the bucket to global forces.
The district could encourage new subdivisions to set aside lots for long term housing. No resale restrictions but a covenant prohibiting short term rentals. This could be done through higher density or waiving the development cost charges. Just an idea.....I don’t know if there is a market for non-VR properties.
Yes! Tofino and Mayor Osbourne are ready to "step up". Isn't that wonderful. Into the breach. You get the impression of such courage. Yes, "step up" with your land and with your money. Courage comes easy spending other peoples money.
Why haven't they done the real work? Why haven't they got some water?(All gone to under the table VR's) Why haven't they approved some development? All manner of proposals have been laid on the table in the last twenty years. All of them apparently wrong. What is it they are looking for? Supply and demand, and prices keep rising.
When did Canada run out of the resources to construct housing,(we have not) and when did Canadians run out of intelligence or will.(we have not). Current housing shortfalls can all be laid at the feet of how our society has come to be organized and regulated. In other words, government. When WW2 ended and the troops came home, and people started families, there were huge housing shortages, the previous years efforts having been concentrated on war production. But that generation did something to solve their problem and more housing was constructed in the subsequent decades than current officials can apparently imagine for this generation and this time, with all its advantages.
Government has forgot it's first purpose is not to provide for the people but to ensure the conditions where people can provide for themselves. There is so much bureaucracy and restriction, that the people are now left begging for a few scraps doled out. And in the meantime the same government struggles to enforce the few restrictions that would have helped prevent the erosion of our housing base. People are denied their true birth right as Canadians, a opportunity to ensure their own success, through their own effort. It's the system, stupid.
The mention above of "global forces" is interesting. Seems like there's a lack of "affordable housing" in lots of places. London, Paris, Manhattan, Vail, The Hamptons, South Beach Miami, Aspen, West Vancouver, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Oak Bay......yep, Tofino too. Why is it that the most desirable places to live are all so expensive? This is not just a "Tofino" fact. This is the way things are, and it's not going to change. There are never going to be "cheap" properties available in Tofino. Once again, the season is upon us. (Remember about 40 years ago when the decision was made to focus on a tourism based local economy, to replace the fishing and logging?). Well, it worked. Here come the tourists. And along with them, here come the seasonal workers who serve them, and also here come the business operators who reap the profits. Lots of profits. There's enough housing in Tofino to fill the demand of the full time residents. There must be, they live here full time. (think about that for a minute). It's with the seasonal, part time residents where we find the shortage. Makes sense, how can a property be occupied for only half of the year, sit vacant for the other half, and be expected to cover all the associated costs of its' existence? It cannot be done. Who's going to pay the costs of housing all of these seasonal workers? Many responsible employers, sensible enough to realize that they must have these workers in order to operate, provide staff accommodations of one form or another. Others simply pay dirt wages and allow their "peons" to scrape whatever hole in the ground they can find. To them, it's not about "social responsibility". It's about those profits we mentioned above. Lots of profits. It has been suggested that all business license applications should include the questions: How many employees? Where will they live? Why not let those reaping the "lots of profits" solve their own self-created problem? No employee housing, no business license.
This is great. Wow! Our local municipal government is going to give away the public's land and use the taxpayer's dollars to supply cheap staff housing for the local "award winning" restaurants and the local surf shops and other seasonal businesses, who are too greedy to supply it for themselves. That's a great solution to a non-problem. Here's a different solution: How about Staff, mayor, and council all simply just GET OUT OF THE WAY and allow private developers (on their own land) to fill the housing shortage. That would allow the people to maintain ownership of their public lands for future use, and allow the tax dollars of the residents to be used for other things, like maybe an increased water supply or a sewage treatment facility.
Gibson Heights had no problem getting approved.It was approved with no restrictions on short term rentals. The developer was even given increased density. It should be noted that the property didn’t require rezoning.
there was no increased density on gibson heights. there was a variance for the lot sizes. some bigger to take into account the slope and some smaller. 19 started out and 19 after the variance.
A few comments. To 11.01AM. You offered the following wisdom, "There is enough housing in Tofino to fill the demand of the full time residents. There must be, they live here full time.(Think about that for a minute)" I have thought about that, and consider it one of the dumbest offerings ever on these postings.
Except for the people who had to move to Ukee or moved right out of the area because they couldn't find anything. Do you count the people who are living full time, under a log or in a plastic TeePee or in some abandoned shit hole moldy travel trailer as being "housed". I could go on, but must say your logic is about a sterling as asking "how big is a hole" or perhaps "show me the evidence of something that never happened". Think about it.
And to *:35 AM How is "blaming foreign investors and short term rentals" not the same as identifying "a global trend in speculative investment in real estate". Its all the same thing. Money and business operating on a global level. Enabled by the impacts of unforeseen, now current, technologies for marketing and information transfer. Let me ask you a question. If the supporters of globalization, the free transfer of money, people information and business, across national borders, knew it would result in the current reality of so many people feeling displaced, out bid, not being able to imagine a home for themselves equivalent to the one they grew up in, or any home at all, do you think it was a good idea. Maybe the whole sale adoption of these ideas was imprudent and naïve. Maybe there needs to be an adjustment in our thinking.
4:17 PM....You sound like the "chill dude", relaxed and easy going, looking for a place to crash "long term (at least until September)", affordable and on the beach if possible, for myself and my very well behaved dog. Willing to do gardening in lieu of rent. Ready to share some awesome tunes and muffins...... and wondering why you can't find a place to live. Go ahead, move to Ukee, better yet move right out of the area. No one wants you here. No one cares how you feel. No one wants to hear your opinion. No one needs their thinking adjusted. We're all fine. It's you that have the problem. You're trying to live in Tofino, the way you want to live,on your own terms, and you just don't fit here. No one is going to supply you with a free home. So go ahead with your dream of a utopian society where everything is handed to you on a silver platter, "because society should care about me (sniff sniff)". Good luck with that.
4:17PM You said it perfectly. I'm thinking that I should save that comment and hand it out to whiners who 'have dogs' and can't find a place to stay. The issue is partially globalization as others have said but the big elephant in the room is the number of people there are in the world. Survival of the fittest is here. Used to be you just moved to the next town when you didn't find a place you liked or could afford. That can still be done in Canada but now there are millions more people being born and looking for that paradise that can no longer exist. In the old days you could come here and build a shack or in the case of Henry, a nice A-frame home and live a quiet life right on the beach. The land was sold, others came and now all the spaces are taken. As 4:17 said nobody cares that you didn't learn the skills you need to survive and make a good living in this world while you were playing video games or surfing as a kid.
This is really funny. I am a chill dude. I've lived in tough my whole life and have done very well for myself, thank you. I have a lovely home that I enjoy. You lot sound like a pack of angry dogs. In the old days we would have to put down a bad animal. Now, you lot just engage in put downs.
Not only are your presumptions about me completely false. They reveal a deep seated bigotry.
Your rant, while it helps you vent all that anger, is not very interesting intellectually, and no substitute for a thoughtfull comment about important subjects. Like the world is not discussing the ramifications of globalization and like Tofino is not discussing it's housing issues.
As for not wanting me here. I am here. I was here a long time before you, and I will be here after your gone. You are on my turf. Why did we even let you people in?
But even if I just wandered down the highway last week and kinda liked the place, I am here. I am under your bed at night, and closer than that. Obviously I am in your head. The only problem for me is that it's lonely in there, as there is nobody home.
Ah ha 9:45 what was it that had you being in tough your whole life? That allowed you to do well for your self & have that lovely home that you enjoy? I would say you are just as much a hypocrite benefitting in some form, either your generation or your parents from the 'global capitalization' and social interest in people wanting to flock to Tofino. Where would you truly be if not for those people that arrived on 'your turf'? What an ignorant pompous comment to make. You are not much different than those you criticize.
It still all comes down to too many people chasing too many dreams of wealthy paradise when the reality is that there's a world full of people all chasing the same dream with not enough resources to feed those dreams. Supply and demand bids up prices of the remaining resources to levels many cannot afford.
If you think the cost of living/housing here is high wait until Canada has a few more millions of people and there are millions more from around the world with the money to invest here all competing for those scarce resources.
If locals sell out, just like on the lower mainland, it will be unlikely that should they decide to return that they would be able to afford that same property.
In Tofino of course since council decided to allow VR's, turning all the housing into revenue properties, the difficulty is even more severe.
VR's have been allowed in Tofino for a long time. this is not a current change. The difficulty is more severe due to many other reasons other than VR's. Of course it has exacerbated the situation somewhat over the last decade but it is not the main variable over that time.
High housing costs are a problem in any desirable location but places like Victoria and Vancouver don’t have vast tracts of unoccupied land like Tofino does. There are no ALR factors here. Sewer and water issues are often mentioned as reasons for limiting growth but more effort seems to be directed at downtown revitalization.
Yes Ralph, you are the voice of reason here. Why doesn't the DOT 'get it'? You get my vote. Please run! Our downtown looks terrible. No plan whatsoever. We had potential to take advantage of our beautiful land location but no. More commercial space, yet no place for people to live? Stupid is as stupid does.
And then we have the Elephant in the room. Those who buy a house in tofino, maybe live here maybe not. Want to live the beach slacker curated surf bum life and fully monetize what used to be a family home of contributing individuals. You may be a trustafarian or a Vancouver property lottery winner.. But you have to be free to attend unlimited yoga sessions and every south swell. But it is just so inconsiderate of DOT to ask you to follow well established rules for short term rentals...after all who am I really hurting. Everyone who actually lives here. And they arrive every week. To live the dream at any cost. And then we have the very interesting way in which rules are applied. By complaints. No by equal and just assessment. And yet if your part of the inner circle who would dare to complain hell there might even be a sweet deal in it. You don't call me out and I'll let your transgressions slide right through. All the worst of this has happened under the current Mayors watch. Please remember that come election time. Are we just allowed to vote no?
Don't puff up Ralph"s ego. He will want to spend even more time outside the post office holding court. He might even be tempted to trade in his stanfields for a suit and tie, maybe get a shave, and then where would we be. Besides, he had a run at it years ago.
8:52 AM....I believe that you've just taken "incoherent babbling" to a new level. I recognize the language, it's english, but I've read it three times and I still have no idea what you're trying to say.
Downtown revitalization money comes from the tourist bed tax. Infrastructure money for water sewer must come from different sources.....property taxes etc., provincial and federal grants and of course, development cost charges.
Agree with the view that what the bed tax can be spent on is not what we need. Tourism seems to be growing just fine, yet we are bound to promote it by spending bed tax dollars. Council needs to be lobbying the new NDP gov for more flexibility. We need infrastructure just to cope. The new proposals to have VRs contribute to the bed tax is fine, just get them to allow it to offset the costs of water etc. You are correct Ralph we have lots of land... We now occupy maybe 10% of Tofino .We could have more if we want/need. Years ago the Regional District inquired about whether Tofino wanted to take on the orphaned area know as Darlene"s Rock. Located on the inlet at the Tofino end of the Park. At the time it seemed too much. Now there are services going right past, down the highway. A few years back the Province came to a council meeting enquiring about the use of it's large tracts of land inside Tofino's boundaries or adjacent. Was there development potential there? Council of the day sent them packing, literally. The "Green Cabal" was in full force. An arrogant posture was assumed. Council's expressed concerns were protecting the forests, and that TOFINO, alone, would decide. Bloody pathetic. Some of those lands were subsequently given over to First Nations. Much still remain....resting.
Housing will solve itself when the Country gets off of it's "diversity" and delicate feelings that growth is inherently bad. The land is strong....healthy roots will produce new growth in the spring and abundance in season......
9:40 I figured it out, sort of. 8:52 might want a big game park in tofino, or is against it, not sure. Also it appears the Mayor, maybe, has a problem with what she has or hasn't, been dreaming lately. But she for sure hasn't been living it. No, not so much. One important thing is clear, we should tell the folks at CNN that the Russians are not to blame for rigging democracy or for collusion or for corruption It is quite clear that it is surfer dudes who are to blame. Just say Yes to the ride bro! My advise is to trade in your key board, as well as your elephant gun, for a RHINO chaser.
36 comments:
Council and staff support vacation rentals over long term housing.This article is a cruel joke to those seeking housing.Enjoy your stay in one of Tofino's many ghetto campgrounds.
I wouldn't say they support vacation rentals. Tofino has by far the highest licensing fees for short term rentals in all of BC and possibly Canada. Why don't private developers build affordable housing? Because construction costs are so high that recouping the investment one must charge rents that are not affordable, amongst other barriers of entry. Did the last commenter even read the article? There were some interesting points there. Blaming foreign investors and short term rentals instead of a global trend in speculative investment in real estate is quite misleading but seems to be a popular scapegoat for unaffordability. Can one blame local homeowners in using short term rentals as a means to help them pay off mortgages? Land value has gone up much faster than stagnant wages, inflation, etc. To think that a small municipal government has any clout in comparison to global trends is ignorant. The federal government has not been able to do anything about as well as the provincial. How can our small budget even start to do something. Maybe an incentive such as a grant for encouraging long term rentals over short term may be a start but that is just a drop in the bucket to global forces.
The district could encourage new subdivisions to set aside lots for long term housing. No resale restrictions but a covenant prohibiting short term rentals. This could be done through higher density or waiving the development cost charges. Just an idea.....I don’t know if there is a market for non-VR properties.
Yes! Tofino and Mayor Osbourne are ready to "step up". Isn't that wonderful. Into the breach. You get the impression of such courage.
Yes, "step up" with your land and with your money. Courage comes easy spending other peoples money.
Why haven't they done the real work?
Why haven't they got some water?(All gone to under the table VR's) Why haven't they approved some development? All manner of proposals have been laid on the table in the last twenty years. All of them apparently wrong. What is it they are looking for? Supply and demand, and prices keep rising.
When did Canada run out of the resources to construct housing,(we have not) and when did Canadians run out of intelligence or will.(we have not). Current housing shortfalls can all be laid at the feet of how our society has come to be organized and regulated. In other words, government.
When WW2 ended and the troops came home, and people started families, there were huge housing shortages, the previous years efforts having been concentrated on war production. But that generation did something to solve their problem and more housing was constructed in the subsequent decades than current officials can apparently imagine for this generation and this time, with all its advantages.
Government has forgot it's first purpose is not to provide for the people but to ensure the conditions where people can provide for themselves. There is so much bureaucracy and restriction, that the people are now left begging for a few scraps doled out. And in the meantime the same government struggles to enforce the few restrictions that would have helped prevent the erosion of our housing base. People are denied their true birth right as Canadians, a opportunity to ensure their own success, through their own effort. It's the system, stupid.
The mention above of "global forces" is interesting. Seems like there's a lack of "affordable housing" in lots of places. London, Paris, Manhattan, Vail, The Hamptons, South Beach Miami, Aspen, West Vancouver, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Oak Bay......yep, Tofino too. Why is it that the most desirable places to live are all so expensive?
This is not just a "Tofino" fact. This is the way things are, and it's not going to change. There are never going to be "cheap" properties available in Tofino.
Once again, the season is upon us. (Remember about 40 years ago when the decision was made to focus on a tourism based local economy, to replace the fishing and logging?). Well, it worked. Here come the tourists. And along with them, here come the seasonal workers who serve them, and also here come the business operators who reap the profits. Lots of profits.
There's enough housing in Tofino to fill the demand of the full time residents. There must be, they live here full time. (think about that for a minute). It's with the seasonal, part time residents where we find the shortage. Makes sense, how can a property be occupied for only half of the year, sit vacant for the other half, and be expected to cover all the associated costs of its' existence? It cannot be done.
Who's going to pay the costs of housing all of these seasonal workers? Many responsible employers, sensible enough to realize that they must have these workers in order to operate, provide staff accommodations of one form or another. Others simply pay dirt wages and allow their "peons" to scrape whatever hole in the ground they can find. To them, it's not about "social responsibility". It's about those profits we mentioned above. Lots of profits.
It has been suggested that all business license applications should include the questions: How many employees? Where will they live?
Why not let those reaping the "lots of profits" solve their own self-created problem? No employee housing, no business license.
10:00AM for Mayor!!
I like the part where 10:00AM calls her "stupid". Right on!
This is great. Wow! Our local municipal government is going to give away the public's land and use the taxpayer's dollars to supply cheap staff housing for the local "award winning" restaurants and the local surf shops and other seasonal businesses, who are too greedy to supply it for themselves. That's a great solution to a non-problem.
Here's a different solution: How about Staff, mayor, and council all simply just GET OUT OF THE WAY and allow private developers (on their own land) to fill the housing shortage.
That would allow the people to maintain ownership of their public lands for future use, and allow the tax dollars of the residents to be used for other things, like maybe an increased water supply or a sewage treatment facility.
Gibson Heights had no problem getting approved.It was approved with no restrictions on short term rentals. The developer was even given increased density. It should be noted that the property didn’t require rezoning.
Ya. The property was rezoned in the mid nineties. Almost thirty years ago. If it was a new zoning we know where it would have gone.
there was no increased density on gibson heights. there was a variance for the lot sizes. some bigger to take into account the slope and some smaller. 19 started out and 19 after the variance.
Thank you for the clarification
A few comments.
To 11.01AM. You offered the following wisdom, "There is enough housing in Tofino to fill the demand of the full time residents. There must be, they live here full time.(Think about that for a minute)"
I have thought about that, and consider it one of the dumbest offerings ever on these postings.
Except for the people who had to move to Ukee or moved right out of the area because they couldn't find anything. Do you count the people who are living full time, under a log or in a plastic TeePee or in some abandoned shit hole moldy travel trailer as being "housed". I could go on, but must say your logic is about a sterling as asking "how big is a hole" or perhaps "show me the evidence of something that never happened". Think about it.
And to *:35 AM How is "blaming foreign investors and short term rentals" not the same as identifying "a global trend in speculative investment in real estate". Its all the same thing. Money and business operating on a global level. Enabled by the impacts of unforeseen, now current, technologies for marketing and information transfer.
Let me ask you a question. If the supporters of globalization, the free transfer of money, people information and business, across national borders, knew it would result in the current reality of so many people feeling displaced, out bid, not being able to imagine a home for themselves equivalent to the one they grew up in, or any home at all, do you think it was a good idea. Maybe the whole sale adoption of these ideas was imprudent and naïve. Maybe there needs to be an adjustment in our thinking.
4:17 PM....You sound like the "chill dude", relaxed and easy going, looking for a place to crash "long term (at least until September)", affordable and on the beach if possible, for myself and my very well behaved dog. Willing to do gardening in lieu of rent. Ready to share some awesome tunes and muffins...... and wondering why you can't find a place to live.
Go ahead, move to Ukee, better yet move right out of the area. No one wants you here. No one cares how you feel. No one wants to hear your opinion. No one needs their thinking adjusted. We're all fine. It's you that have the problem. You're trying to live in Tofino, the way you want to live,on your own terms, and you just don't fit here. No one is going to supply you with a free home.
So go ahead with your dream of a utopian society where everything is handed to you on a silver platter, "because society should care about me (sniff sniff)". Good luck with that.
Bravo 5:43. Well said. Would you run for council? Actually there are a few posters here that would do well to run in my books.
4:17PM You said it perfectly. I'm thinking that I should save that comment and hand it out to whiners who 'have dogs' and can't find a place to stay.
The issue is partially globalization as others have said but the big elephant in the room is the number of people there are in the world. Survival of the fittest is here.
Used to be you just moved to the next town when you didn't find a place you liked or could afford. That can still be done in Canada but now there are millions more people being born and looking for that paradise that can no longer exist.
In the old days you could come here and build a shack or in the case of Henry, a nice A-frame home and live a quiet life right on the beach.
The land was sold, others came and now all the spaces are taken.
As 4:17 said nobody cares that you didn't learn the skills you need to survive and make a good living in this world while you were playing video games or surfing as a kid.
To 7:51, to 1:38 and to 5:43.
This is really funny. I am a chill dude. I've lived in tough my whole life and have done very well for myself, thank you. I have a lovely home that I enjoy. You lot sound like a pack of angry dogs.
In the old days we would have to put down a bad animal. Now, you lot just engage in put downs.
Not only are your presumptions about me completely false. They reveal a deep seated bigotry.
Your rant, while it helps you vent all that anger, is not very interesting intellectually, and no substitute for a thoughtfull comment about important subjects. Like the world is not discussing the ramifications of globalization and like Tofino is not discussing it's housing issues.
As for not wanting me here. I am here. I was here a long time before you, and I will be here after your gone. You are on my turf. Why did we even let you people in?
But even if I just wandered down the highway last week and kinda liked the place, I am here. I am under your bed at night, and closer than that. Obviously I am in your head. The only problem for me is that it's lonely in there, as there is nobody home.
For those that haven't seen what's coming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcso1tC1Y-k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVoNy1wvst4
If you think it's busy now, just wait!
Is this why Councillor McMaster has put his B&B property up for sale?
I love this place more each day
Ah ha 9:45 what was it that had you being in tough your whole life? That allowed you to do well for your self & have that lovely home that you enjoy? I would say you are just as much a hypocrite benefitting in some form, either your generation or your parents from the 'global capitalization' and social interest in people wanting to flock to Tofino.
Where would you truly be if not for those people that arrived on 'your turf'?
What an ignorant pompous comment to make. You are not much different than those you criticize.
It still all comes down to too many people chasing too many dreams of wealthy paradise when the reality is that there's a world full of people all chasing the same dream with not enough resources to feed those dreams. Supply and demand bids up prices of the remaining resources to levels many cannot afford.
If you think the cost of living/housing here is high wait until Canada has a few more millions of people and there are millions more from around the world with the money to invest here all competing for those scarce resources.
If locals sell out, just like on the lower mainland, it will be unlikely that should they decide to return that they would be able to afford that same property.
In Tofino of course since council decided to allow VR's, turning all the housing into revenue properties, the difficulty is even more severe.
VR's have been allowed in Tofino for a long time. this is not a current change. The difficulty is more severe due to many other reasons other than VR's. Of course it has exacerbated the situation somewhat over the last decade but it is not the main variable over that time.
What is the main variable ? Lack of development ? Too difficult to subdivide here ?
The main variable......sits at the corner of Third and Campbell, every third Tuesday.
good question/ will think about it and get back.
High housing costs are a problem in any desirable location but places like Victoria and Vancouver don’t have vast tracts of unoccupied land like Tofino does. There are no ALR factors here.
Sewer and water issues are often mentioned as reasons for limiting growth but more effort seems to be directed at downtown revitalization.
Yes Ralph, you are the voice of reason here. Why doesn't the DOT 'get it'?
You get my vote. Please run!
Our downtown looks terrible. No plan whatsoever. We had potential to take advantage of our beautiful land location but no. More commercial space, yet no place for people to live? Stupid is as stupid does.
And then we have the Elephant in the room. Those who buy a house in tofino, maybe live here maybe not. Want to live the beach slacker curated surf bum life and fully monetize what used to be a family home of contributing individuals. You may be a trustafarian or a Vancouver property lottery winner.. But you have to be free to attend unlimited yoga sessions and every south swell. But it is just so inconsiderate of DOT to ask you to follow well established rules for short term rentals...after all who am I really hurting. Everyone who actually lives here. And they arrive every week. To live the dream at any cost. And then we have the very interesting way in which rules are applied. By complaints. No by equal and just assessment. And yet if your part of the inner circle who would dare to complain hell there might even be a sweet deal in it. You don't call me out and I'll let your transgressions slide right through. All the worst of this has happened under the current Mayors watch. Please remember that come election time. Are we just allowed to vote no?
Don't puff up Ralph"s ego. He will want to spend even more time outside the post office holding court. He might even be tempted to trade in his stanfields for a suit and tie, maybe get a shave, and then where would we be. Besides, he had a run at it years ago.
8:52 AM....I believe that you've just taken "incoherent babbling" to a new level. I recognize the language, it's english, but I've read it three times and I still have no idea what you're trying to say.
Downtown revitalization money comes from the tourist bed tax. Infrastructure money for water sewer must come from different sources.....property taxes etc., provincial and federal grants and of course, development cost charges.
Agree with the view that what the bed tax can be spent on is not what we need. Tourism seems to be growing just fine, yet we are bound to promote it by spending bed tax dollars. Council needs to be lobbying the new NDP gov for more flexibility. We need infrastructure just to cope. The new proposals to have VRs contribute to the bed tax is fine, just get them to allow it to offset the costs of water etc.
You are correct Ralph we have lots of land... We now occupy maybe 10% of Tofino .We could have more if we want/need. Years ago the Regional District inquired about whether Tofino wanted to take on the orphaned area know as Darlene"s Rock. Located on the inlet at the Tofino end of the Park. At the time it seemed too much. Now there are services going right past, down the highway.
A few years back the Province came to a council meeting enquiring about the use of it's large tracts of land inside Tofino's boundaries or adjacent. Was there development potential there? Council of the day sent them packing, literally. The "Green Cabal" was in full force. An arrogant posture was assumed. Council's expressed concerns were protecting the forests, and that TOFINO, alone, would decide. Bloody pathetic. Some of those lands were subsequently given over to First Nations. Much still remain....resting.
Housing will solve itself when the Country gets off of it's "diversity" and delicate feelings that growth is inherently bad.
The land is strong....healthy roots will produce new growth in the spring and abundance in season......
@9:25 no need to worry !!
9:40 I figured it out, sort of. 8:52 might want a big game park in tofino, or is against it, not sure. Also it appears the Mayor, maybe, has a problem with what she has or hasn't, been dreaming lately. But she for sure hasn't been living it. No, not so much.
One important thing is clear, we should tell the folks at CNN that the Russians are not to blame for rigging democracy or for collusion or for corruption It is quite clear that it is surfer dudes who are to blame. Just say Yes to the ride bro!
My advise is to trade in your key board, as well as your elephant gun, for a RHINO chaser.
https://tofino.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=782&content=true
So, was the special council meeting part of the solution or part of the problem of housing in Tofino?
Anyone know the decisions that were made today?
Unconfirmed reports that the bylaw was upheld and no business licences were issued.
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