Penticton Chamber’s Advocacy Committee Solidifying Housing Policy

Penticton, like many cities across the Province, is in a crisis when it comes to housing affordability and availability, resulting in a lack of potential workers to operate our businesses. This crisis has a direct link to the lack of inventory and this crisis can only be addressed through approval of multi-unit proposals. The shortage of housing and subsequent rising costs for either renting or purchasing a home in the last few years has had a significant impact on local businesses to hire and retain employees, and for business owners themselves to find housing that is affordable. This negative impact has caused some local businesses to reduce hours and/or limit available services, and even caused some to close altogether. We fear that this will have a significant and long-term detrimental effect on the overall health of our community.

The advocacy committee has been researching the various ways communities have tackled this issue, and how to increase housing supply in our own city. With our Housing Policy’s Guiding Principles almost complete, we will be combining that with our research when speaking with our newly and re-elected Mayor and Council. The upside is that our housing crisis is no secret and everyone elected has this top of mind, but it will be the speed of implementing solutions which will be critical to all of us. While we acknowledge that there is no catch-all, silver bullet solution, there are a number of initiatives that can be taken at a municipal level with regards to zoning and incentivizing affordable housing growth while our counterpart, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, lobbies our provincial government to support our initiatives through increased funding.

Should you have any recommendations regarding housing, or would like to take an active role in the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, please contact Executive Director Michael Magnusson at mmagnusson@penticton.org - we’d love to hear from you.

INCREASES IN DEVELOPMENT COST CHARGES

Press Release October 20, 2022

The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is disappointed to see the outgoing Council’s decision to raise the rates of development cost charges during their last meeting.

“The Chamber can appreciate that DCC are a necessary charge to ensure that funds are available for future infrastructure requirements. However, the timing of such a rate increase is not ideal. Penticton is struggling with housing availability and affordability,” says Jonathan McGraw, Chamber President. “The shortage of housing and subsequent rising costs for either renting or purchasing a home in the last few years has had a significant impact on local businesses to hire and retain employees, and for business owners themselves to find housing that is affordable. This negative impact has caused some local businesses to reduce hours and/or limit available services, and even caused some to close altogether. We fear that this will have a significant and long-term detrimental effect on the overall health of our community.”

While the Chamber understands that Penticton has rates below Kelowna and West Kelowna, comparing ourselves to our neighbouring communities should never be the main criteria in any decision made at City Hall, nor should it have been made at the last meeting of this Mayor and Councils’ term.

“We hope that the incoming Mayor and Council review this decision given where Penticton is at in terms of housing,” says Michael Magnusson, Executive Director of the Chamber. “We need to be encouraging developers to invest in our city, particularly in multi-family residential, townhouse, and apartment buildings, rather than adding to the cost of each unit which in turn gets passed onto the buyer or renter.”

This is the time to keep the playing field tipped in Penticton’s favour rather than trying to level it with Kelowna and West Kelowna and use the future taxes generated by the population increase to cover the difference in the development cost charge.

Press Releases 2022

BC Chamber 2022 Collective Perspective Survey - Closes Tomorrow

24 HRS LEFT!

How do you feel about the taxes your business pays? Take the 2022 Collective Perspective Survey and make sure your voice is heard.

The Penticton Chamber will receive results that are specific to our area and we will be sharing them with our networks.

Last Chance to Participate Survey closes Friday, Oct 21 at 5pm PST.

Congratulations to all the Nominees and Finalists. A special thank you to all our sponsors, we would not be able to do this without you. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Mardi Gras this Saturday!

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