A motion was passed by council requesting that staff look into the possibility of allowing carriage homes or other similar structures in Castlegar.
Carriage homes are small structures that are typically built at the back of a property. Tiny houses and in-law type houses were also mentioned.
The idea was brought forward by Coun. Florio Vassilikakis.
“There is a shortage of housing, and the more we can increase inventory, the cost could be brought down for rentals,” he said. “There are some other communities in the area that do allow them.”
Business licenses and building permits up
As of the end of March, 535 business licenses had been issued, up from 517 for the same period in 2016.
The value of building permits is up significantly from the same period last year. Twenty-one permits have been issued, valued at $1,663,760 up from $901,100 in 2016.
Yearbook advertising
Council approved an advertising request from Stanley Humphries Secondary School for the school’s 2017 yearbook. The half-page ad will cost the city $225. The city has been purchasing yearbook ads for numerous years and the money will come from the advertising budget.
Strategic doing session
Council also authorized $600 from the economic budget to assist with the costs of facilitating an economic development “Strategic Doing Session” in Castlegar. The event is being coordinated by several community organizations including the Selkirk College Applied Research and Innovation Centre, MIDAS, Community Futures, KAST and the Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce.
The session will “discuss how technology and entrepreneurial thinking can be used to drive economic growth in Castlegar in new ways, and how Castlegar fits within the new and growing technology based economy. The session discussion would identify what Castlegar’s assets are and how it can leverage them, and how to build onto other initiatives instead of duplicating them within the region.”
Good Samaritan
Council also decided to continue the Good Samaritan Award again this year. The program seeks to “acknowledge individuals who gratuitously perform a random act of kindness that improves the community’s appearance and/or assists another Castlegar resident.”
Residents can submit a nomination letter or email the city by Nov. 30. Nominees will be entered in a draw, the prize will be a $250 donation to a local charity of the winner’s choice. Their name will also be added to the new Good Samaritans of Castlegar bench located at City Hall.