Frequently Asked Questions: BC Housing Super 8 Purchase
Questions
- What does the purchase of the Super 8 Motel by the Province mean for this supportive housing issue?
- Does the City support the purchase of the Super 8 Motel as a replacement for the Travelodge?
- Why didn’t the Province just buy the Travelodge?
- Is the Super 8 bigger or smaller than the Travelodge?
- Will more people be living at the Super 8 than at the Travelodge?
- Why has BC Housing left the purchase so late if they have to be out of the Travelodge by the end of this month?
- Will the City give BC housing a temporary use permit for the Super 8 Motel site?
- If the Province can simply ignore the City and its processes why is there an information meeting planned?
- Why did BC housing and the Province not build a purpose-built project?
- Did the City lobby for a purpose-built project? If you did, why was this not successful?
- What is the temporary use permit process?
- Is BC Housing going to develop permanent housing on the Super 8 site?
- What is Council doing with the Province to address the issues in our community?
- Will BC housing and the Province be making any modifications to the Super 8 property?
- Who is responsible for addressing neighbourhood issues related to the use of the Super 8?
- What is happening with the Connect centre?
- What is the current zoning at the Super 8?
- What happens to the public comments made at the public meeting?
- In addition to the public meeting on June 8, how else can residents provide their comments on the temporary use permit application by BC Housing?
- Where can I get more information?
Answers
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What does the purchase of the Super 8 Motel by the Province mean for this supportive housing issue?
The purchase of the Super 8 and the move from the Travelodge means residents of the Travelodge will continue to have a roof over their heads, and that’s important. The move however from one motel to another is still a temporary fix and not the purpose-built supportive housing and services we want and need in Courtenay. This purchase and move do nothing to increase capacity and is not the permanent solution that we all know is needed.
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Does the City support the purchase of the Super 8 Motel as a replacement for the Travelodge?
The purchase of the Super 8 will keep the residents of the Travelodge housed, but it does not add any additional supportive housing and it is still a temporary fix, rather than the permanent purpose-built housing we have been calling for. Council is unanimous on what we need because we know that purpose-built housing with the right services and right capacity is the real solution, not moving people between motels.
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Why didn’t the Province just buy the Travelodge?
The province announced they could not reach a purchase agreement with the owner of the Travelodge, which meant they had to make other arrangements. BC Housing News
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Is the Super 8 bigger or smaller than the Travelodge?
Council’s preference had been the Travelodge because it had the potential for more capacity, the Super 8 is large enough to house all of the Travelodge residents, but it does not add any new capacity, and we still have people living on the street who desperately need housing and services.
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Will more people be living at the Super 8 than at the Travelodge?
The Super 8 will accommodate the residents of the Travelodge, but there is no additional capacity, which does not help those who are still living unhoused on our streets. That is why we have consistently called for additional supportive housing with the right services, which would give us more capacity to help more people.
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Why has BC Housing left the purchase so late if they have to be out of the Travelodge by the end of this month?
Details of the purchase and the process are best left to BC Housing and the province, but we understand the effort to buy the Travelodge had been going on for some time.
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Will the City give BC housing a temporary use permit for the Super 8 Motel site?
At the end of the day, we do not want the people currently living in the Travelodge to be back on the street, so we are working with BC Housing on its application for a temporary use permit for the Super 8. The site is not zoned for supportive housing and has some safety issues that need addressing. As a city we are required to follow the rules and regulations that are in place, ignoring that process is not an option for the City. But the province as the senior level of government can push ahead and override any City process or regulations. The temporary use permit, if approved by Council, will have conditions for fire plan, security and building code compliance. The application for the temporary use permit will be provided to Council at an upcoming Council meeting for their consideration. Notice will be provided to the public.
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If the Province can simply ignore the City and its processes why is there an information meeting planned?
We want to work as partners with the Province and BC Housing, and that includes recognizing the independent roles of the City and the Province. At the same time, we want to make sure our residents in Courtenay can have their say and raise their issues and concerns, and most importantly get answers. BC Housing has organized a community information session starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 at the Lower Native Sons Hall Lodge Room.
BC Housing has also established an online public engagement space for the project on Let’s Talk Housing BC
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Why did BC housing and the Province not build a purpose-built project?
That’s a question best asked of BC Housing and the provincial government. Purpose-built housing with the right services has always been the priority for Council. We will continue to demand that Courtenay get the right type of supportive housing that is needed now and in the long-term. We were disappointed that after three years at the Travelodge, BC Housing made the choice to buy the Super 8 rather than invest in a more permanent purpose-built solution. That is something we will continue to push for as a City Council.
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Did the City lobby for a purpose-built project? If you did, why was this not successful?
Yes, we have consistently and unanimously pushed for a purpose-built solution to this supportive housing issue. We know that this is the only real, permanent, long-term solution. It’s an issue we will continue to work on with BC Housing and the province as we agree with the province that we have a supportive housing crisis here. While the Super 8 purchase is not the solution we wanted or pushed for, we will continue to demand that the province and BC Housing do what is actually needed, which is purpose-built supportive housing.
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What is the temporary use permit process?
The Super 8 site is not zoned for supportive housing. BC Housing needs a temporary use permit to permit supportive housing on the property to move residents from the Travelodge to the Super 8. The temporary use permit process is guided by the Local Government Act and the City’s Development Application Procedures Bylaw. The following steps are required:
- Applicant (BC Housing) holds a public information meeting
- The City of Courtenay distributes a public notice to properties within a 100m radius stating:
- What the temporary use is
- How the public can provide comments to Council, and
- When Council will consider the application
- Courtenay Council considers the temporary use application at a regular Council meeting
If approved by Council, the permit would have conditions that must be implemented and maintained. The permit is only valid for up to three years. BC Housing would be able to apply for a one-time extension for up to three years which Council would consider at a regular Council meeting. We expect BC Housing to follow that process, but we also know that the province as the senior level of government has the authority to act on its own, and can override any City process.
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Is BC Housing going to develop permanent housing on the Super 8 site?
We are continuing to work with BC Housing on the Super 8 site, but they have not talked to the City yet about any future development plans on that particular property. They are certainly aware that we want permanent, purpose-built supportive housing with more capacity as the real long-term solution.
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What is Council doing with the Province to address the issues in our community?
We are in regular contact with the province and BC Housing about the supportive housing issues and priorities we have in Courtenay. They are well aware of our issues and the solutions we support as a Council. Day-to-day we have a very good working relationship. We have more to do and we will continue working directly with the Province and BC Housing to reinforce the practical and long-term solutions we support and push for.
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Will BC housing and the Province be making any modifications to the Super 8 property?
BC Housing and the province have not made any announcements about possible modifications to the Super 8.
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Who is responsible for addressing neighbourhood issues related to the use of the Super 8?
BC Housing as the owner of the site is responsible for responding to any concerns related to its operation at that location. It is expected that BC Housing, along with the housing operator, will initiate a Community Advisory Committee (as was done at the Travelodge and Junction) to listen and respond to the community. This will form a condition of the temporary use permit.
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What is happening with the Connect centre?
The Connect centre is currently operating out of a temporary location on Cliffe Ave. BC Housing stated in its press release that “BC Housing […] continues to work with the City and CVTS to identify options for a permanent location for the CONNECT shelter. BC Housing will update the community if a new site is confirmed.” The City continues to advocate to the Province for a permanent and purpose-built location for the important services offered at the Connect centre.
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What is the current zoning at the Super 8?
The property is zoned Multiple Use Two Zone (MU-2) which permits residential, commercial, and combined residential and commercial buildings. A hotel is permitted but not supportive housing.
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What happens to the public comments made at the public meeting?
The City’s development applications procedure bylaw requires that BC Housing prepare a report of the public comments from the public information meeting. Staff will incorporate this information into the staff report for the temporary use permit application.
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In addition to the public meeting on June 8, how else can residents provide their comments on the temporary use permit application by BC Housing?
The City will be providing public notification to the residents in a 100 m radius of the Super 8 and directions on how to submit concerns will be included in the notice. Those concerns will be shared with Council as part of the process.
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Where can I get more information?
BC Housing has established an online public engagement space for the project on Let’s Talk Housing BC.
For more information about BC Housing’s plans for the Super 8, contact BC Housing at communityrelations@bchousing.org and your MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard, ronna-rae.leonard.mla@leg.bc.ca