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February 8 2013 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Beauty nights are a chance for vulnerable women to remember just how beautiful they are—and they’re coming to new west. See Page a3
‘Plans to control coal dust must be in place’ Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
MarIO barTeL/NeWSLeaDer
noel ouellette, of acoRn, says despite a healthy number of for Rent signs in front of buildings in new westminster’s Brow of the hill neighbourhood, not all of the buildings are well-maintained or desirable accommodation.
City seeks to protect rental housing Aim to keep current buildings and encourage more to be built Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Rental housing in New Westminster is being knocked down without anything to replace it, so the city has come up with some ways it hopes will reverse the trend. The situation is getting serious because the median age of the city’s rental stock is approaching 50 years, said a report to Monday’s council meeting. In 2012, 51 rental units were demolished but “there has
been virtually no construction of secured market rental housing in the last 10 years.” The report from planning manager Bev Grieve says unless incentives are created the shortage will worsen. The plan she presented recommends business licence fees for rental housing be capped at the current rate for five years. To address the issue, the city is also considering: • continuing its moratorium on converting rental buildings to strata; • not supporting rezoning properties for higher density development;
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• requiring developers tearing down rental buildings to have a plan for tenant relocation and replacement housing options; and • exploring transferring the allowed density on the property elsewhere to preserve the existing purpose-built stock. To increase investment in rental stock construction, increase the life of existing stock, and improve their operating costs, the report recommends: • using the density bonus program to permit additional construction of rental units on the site; 4x1.25_book_drive_ad_final.pdf • reducing building permit fees for
additional units up to 50 per cent; and • consider relaxing engineering service requirements when adding new units. “We have to acknowledge that buildings age out,” said Coun. Betty McIntosh. “Do we want these people to start becoming slum landlords? Basically, no. We want the upgrades happening. The policy is going to have to address what we can do, not just say ‘you can’t do that. You’re going to have to do something to keep your buildings in shape.’ ” 1 12-03-05 1:20 PM Please see aFFOrDabLe, a7
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Port Metro Vancouver insists the Fraser Surrey Docks must come up with a plan to control dust before approval will be given to a proposed coal transfer facility across the river from New Westminster. “Any fugitive dust from any marine site we want to make sure there is mitigation put in place. We ensure that our terminal operators are moving proactively and have mitigation measures in place. We do that for all of our bulk operators,” said the port authority’s director of planning and development Jim Crandles at Monday’s city council meeting. “Any time you deal with a material in bulk, it generates dust. It’s the major issue in any terminal whether it be grain, coal, cement. The key to it is ensuring there are appropriate mitigation measures on site in the handling.” Fraser Surrey Docks is proposing to build a facility to transfer coal from trains originating in the U.S. directly to barges that would travel the Fraser River to Texada Island where it would be put in freighters for shipment overseas. Please see FOur, a3