The Peace River Regional District says it's concerned about being able to comply with the province's new housing rules.
The regulations set the minimum number of housing units allowed on each parcel of land in single-family zones, in order to create more so-called “missing middle” housing such as townhouses and multi-unit homes.
The PRRD voted in favour of allocating $217,309 received from the province for hiring additional staff or funding consulting services in order to begin complying with the bill.
Director Tony Zabinsky asked whether more funding would be made available from the province.
"Although it's a significant amount of funding that's coming our way, I think it's not going to be enough to continue this as we move forward. And might not even be enough for this year," Zabinsky said.
"We definitely hope there's an opportunity for more funding from the province, because this doesn't really come close to what is necessary to do what we are now legislated to do," said PRRD CAO Shawn Dahlen. "Unfortunately, the goal posts continue to keep moving."
He added that rules may be changing when it comes to revisiting official community plans for regional districts, but was unable to get a definitive dates, noting the funding only covers roughly a third of the cost required to update zoning bylaws.
PRRD directors also voted in favour of sending a letter to housing minister Ravi Kahlon, expressing concern over the lack of funding provided to comply with Bill 44 and the unrealistic timelines to complete the work required, amending their letter to note that there is no housing crisis in the Peace Region.
"I see this as perhaps, unintentional consequences of downloading from the provincial government," said Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen. "We didn't have this amount budgeted, but yet we have no choice in order to meet the province's deadlines and the requirements they're giving us."
Hansen further noted that the City of Kamloops has begun tallying the costs of items downloaded to their municipality, with the intention of sending the province a bill, suggesting the PRRD could begin their own tally.
"I think there's an opportunity to start to rally some support from regional districts, especially on how to deal with this legislation," said Area E Director Dan Rose, suggesting the PRRD push back to opt out.
"I don't doubt we're not the only ones that are running into this. It's really not that applicable to regional districts, as much as it is to member municipalities," he added. "And I think they need to be made aware of that, and they're adding on costs we can't bear."
Pouce Coupe Mayor Danielle Veach say the new bill goes against the wants and needs of rural residents.
"The province is continually painting the rural communities with that one size fits all paintbrush and without taking into consideration the impacts of the budget and the available resources that we all have," she said.
