Some residents in White Gold are pushing back against a “beautification” project to bury utility lines in the neighbourhood, saying individual costs are more prohibitive than first expected.
A new report coming to council Nov. 3 places costs to homeowners between $4,500 and $22,500, depending on the complexity of their property—not counting the estimated annual repayment value of $1,130 to $1,230 needed per property to recover the project costs.
But residents—including some who were originally in support—are now mounting opposition to the project, which was first introduced in November 2019 by way of a formal petition process from the neighbourhood.
Several homeowners have now written to council expressing concern with the project.
Under Section 212 of the Community Charter, homeowners may petition a municipality for a "local service area," with the costs being recovered via an add-on to annual property taxes over a number of years.
On Sept. 5, 2019, council received a letter from Toni Metcalf, speaking as a resident of the neighbourhood (Metcalf is also the RMOW's economic development coordinator), expressing the interest of White Gold residents to initiate a formal petition process for the work.
Metcalf's letter was accompanied by the signatures of more than 120 White Gold residents.
On Nov. 19, 2019, council passed a resolution stating that the RMOW agrees to fund a portion of the costs for the project—those not covered by a BC Hydro Beautification grant—pending the results of the petition.
BC Hydro awarded the RMOW a $1,236,566 grant on Feb. 19, 2020, of which the municipality expects it will be able to claim $860,000 to cover applicable expenses.
Factoring in the grant, the RMOW will need to borrow $4.66 million from the Municipal Finance Authority to fund the project, which White Gold residents will pay back over a 30-year amortization period via their increased tax bills.
Council will consider a resolution directing staff to proceed with the project at its Nov. 3 meeting.
Find the full agenda and a link to tune in live at https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council/meeting-agendas-and-minutes.
Pick up Thursday’s Pique for more from council.
