BREAKERS – timely tidbits and follow-ups to previously published stories:
- Todsens get millions; Qualicum Beach gets … ??
- More Memorial Avenue Roundabout disinformation
- Bernie at the Beach!
- Local restaurants and businesses reboot their offerings
Todsens would make millions; what would Qualicum Beach get?
Prior to the February 10, 2021 Public Hearing on this contentious proposal, the Town committed to calculate the Community Amenity Contribution that the Todsens would owe the Town should their application be approved, per Town Policy 3008-11. Presumably the Town will make the amount known to the public, although these days such assumptions are dangerous.
Town planners recently confessed that “a land lift analysis was provided by a reputable third party appraiser, but will need to be amended to correct an important assumption about the current permitted use. … Had the appraiser been aware of the limited uses permitted under current zoning, the land lift assessment would likely have yielded a different result.” Short form – we blew it and have to re-do it.
For those unfamiliar with the Town’s policy of collecting a share of the windfall profits a developer gains by getting a subdivision approved, a “Land Lift Analysis” is a Community Amenity Contribution calculation method involving a standardized financial analysis used to estimate an increase in land value attributable to a rezoning approval.
The Town has indicated that 50% of the Todsen “land lift” will be payable to the Town. We’re talking major dollars – converting a $500,000 acreage into 16 building lots worth about $500,000 each, for a total of around $8 million, based on current land values in QB. In this back-of-the-napkin calculation, the Todsens and the Town would each gain $3.75 million.
More Memorial Avenue Roundabout disinformation
Oceanside News mentions that “the Town also received $1.4 million from the province’s water and wastewater fund for phase three of the Memorial Ave. upgrade in 2017.” Yes they did, but let’s blow away the smoke. That funding does not in any way apply to the construction of a roundabout at Memorial…
In a recent Oceanside News story it was claimed that the Memorial Avenue / Hwy 19A Roundabout “project is funded in part by a $600,000 federal gas tax refund the town received in 2016, according to the news release.” We’re not sure what news release they are referring to, but for clarity: The Gas Tax Fund, delivered through the Community Works stream, is a general purpose per capita semi-annual payment that each local government receives and can make choices how to spend. It is NOT a project-specific grant.
The Oceanside News story also mentions the past history that “the Town also received $1.4 million from the province’s water and wastewater fund for phase three of the Memorial Ave. upgrade in 2017.” Yes they did, but let’s blow away the smoke. That funding does not in any way apply to the construction of a roundabout at Memorial / Hwy 19A. For clarity and accuracy, that money was specifically designated to replace a failing sanitary sewer main, including provisions for incorporating a future heat recovery/local energy system – necessary work that was completed a year ago. Additional information can be found in our earlier article, Busting the myth about proposed Waterfront roundabout funding.
And for additional clarity, it was not the “province’s” fund. The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund was a short-term part of the federal government’s Investing in Canada Plan, with each province/territory administering the grants. Cost sharing was 50% from the feds, 33% from the province, with the Town paying the remaining 17%, plus any overruns.
Bernie at the Beach!
Local restaurants and businesses reboot their offerings
It’s February, and along with a few emerging blooms and fragrance, some of our restaurants and businesses are bursting forth with new energy and excitement.
- A new eatery has just opened at on Second Avenue West in QB. Turtle Island Fish & Chips is located between Swell Sweets and Open Collar Men’s store at 240 Second Avenue West.
- Kim’s Corner Store is open for business at their new location, 674 Memorial Avenue beside LifeLabs and Naked Naturals.
- De L’Ile Bakery & Restaurant is open again after taking a well-deserved break in January during which time they renovated their premises.
- Giovanni’s is offering their full menu on both sides, the lounge and the restaurant. Reservations available only at the restaurant for now.
- Also noted are the plexiglas table dividers at Bistro 694 and at Lefty’s. Two thumbs up for helping diners feel safer, so we can help keep you going through these tough times!
- Weinberg’s in Chilham Court, The Sapphire Room at The Crown Mansion and the Qualicum Beach Café at the QB Inn have (re)opened after lengthy breaks.
- And at the end of this month, the Knockananna Grill returns!
Check out Qualicum Beach’s current eatery hours as of February 1, 2021 at QB DRINKS+EATS