Part 2: Base31 Approved, Housing Affordability Challenged, and Accelerator Consultation Moves Forward — 09/20/2023

PECConnect
Sep 20, 2023
3 min read

This section of Planning and Development Committee that met on September 20, 2023 focuses on how different items were discussed at the Council table, who spoke on key topics, and how decisions were recorded through votes and motions. It follows the main themes from the meeting: housing affordability, infrastructure capacity, and the Base 31 development proposal, while highlighting the positions raised by councillors, staff, project representatives, and members of the public, as well as how each item moves forward into consultation or future decision-making.

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap>

Affordable Housing

Councillors Roberts, Pennell, and others questioned the use of 80 percent of market rent as affordable housing, stating that this measure does not assist lower-income residents in the County. The discussion focused on how affordability is defined and whether current benchmarks reflect local needs, with concerns raised during the exchange.

Base 31 Development Vision and Water Capacity

The Base31 team, including Joe Barish and planning consultants, presented the project as a long-term community asset focused on jobs, arts, culture, and housing. Multiple councillors, including the Mayor, expressed support for the vision during the discussion, noting its potential role within the broader planning context.

Staff and consultants confirmed that Picton currently has water capacity to support early phases of development, while also noting that upgrades will be required for future expansion. Councillors raised questions regarding long-term system capacity and the timing of infrastructure improvements as part of the discussion.

Community Infrastructure Housing Accelerator

A bright orange house model stands out among dark grey house models on a grid, creating a vibrant contrast in a uniform setting.

Councillors Maynard and others requested additional clarity before committing to the accelerator request and introduced an amendment to delay submission until after consultation. The amendment did not pass, and Council proceeded with a motion supporting continued consultation while advancing the process.

Public Voices

Community speakers, including business owners and youth advocates, spoke in support of Base31, identifying areas such as employment, education, cultural access, and youth engagement. One speaker also raised concerns regarding the pace of approvals and the need for clear housing commitments, which were noted during the public input portion.

Final Votes

Council voted 12–0 to support the Base 31 area concept plan. Council also voted in favor of proceeding with consultation on the housing accelerator request. No approvals were finalized without future public input.

What it means for residents

Council has supported the Base31 area concept plan and will proceed with consultation on the housing accelerator request. Infrastructure capacity in Picton has been identified for early phases of development, with future upgrades required for expansion. Discussions on affordable housing definitions and standards remain part of ongoing Council consideration, and public input will continue to be included in future stages.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:44:59. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.