The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen gave an affordable housing project a boost to keep rents low with a $307K waiving of development cost charges.
The project is being headed up by the South Skaha Housing Society, who built and operate a 26-unit building next door.
The society was looking for the RDOS board to grant them a waiver for $307,368.00 in charges, split between $4,200 per unit being connected to sewer and $4,338 to unit being connected to the water system.
The previous phase of construction also received a waiver of the RDOS' development cost charges for connecting to the sewer system in 2018, which amounted to $109,200 at that time, as well as receiving a 10-year tax exemption.
The water system at the time was being run by the Okanagan Falls Irrigation District, which dissolved in 2022 and was absorbed into the RDOS. Whether they granted waivers for the water hook-ups and how much was not shared in the RDOS staff report.
Okanagan Falls Director Matt Taylor said that the project was grant funded, but the grants did not cover the development cost charges. He also noted that he was aware the costs would be shifted across the other residents on the water and sewer systems.
The housing being provided through the project is affordable, including subsidized and below-market rentals. The waiving of the additional charges would allow for rents to stay lower for longer.
The board was unanimous on July 3 in their support of granting the waiver for the housing society.
