Sicamous committee asked to consider district identity when planning future growth and housing needs – Salmon Arm News

A planning assistant for the Sicamous district says that while the district is currently viewed as a resort community, it is important to consider whether that identity should determine future growth.

The Sicamous District Housing Committee had a lively discussion about the future of housing during its meeting on Thursday. The committee meets twice a year to discuss housing needs and local perspectives on housing trends.

On Thursday, the committee received an update on an interim housing needs report that was still being finalized by district staff.

“One of the challenges this community faces is our identity,” said June Kwon, the district’s new planning assistant.

Kwon said Sicamous currently identifies as a resort community, but encouraged the commission to consider whether the district will remain that way in five or 10 years. He noted that the housing needs and goals of a resort community may be different than those of other communities.

“That’s a big question,” Graaf replied. Siobhan Rijk. “We really have to identify ourselves: what are we? Are we a resort or are we a family town?”

She said for about 40 percent of property owners in the district, their Sicamous property is their second residence.

“Forty percent of the people who live in this city don’t live here full time,” she said. “It’s a huge number.”

Sarah Kyllo, district business officer, said while that 40 percent do not live in Sicamous full-time, they provide additional property taxes for the district.

“When we look at the total amount this municipality receives, it is largely due to the higher taxes we receive from seasonal residents as a whole,” Kyllo said.

Count. Malcolm Makayev said he recently spoke with a real estate agent and was surprised at the number of vacant homes in the city.

“I’m amazed at how many huge houses there are, like beautiful houses, that are only seasonal, two or three weeks a year, and they don’t use AirBnB or anything, they’re just seasonal,” he said.

As part of the presentation, committee members heard the results of an online housing survey conducted earlier this year.

According to survey respondents, the top three housing challenges are a lack of long-term rental options due to the short-term rental market, a lack of housing for seasonal workers, and the supply of housing for an aging population.

The interim housing needs report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks and will be presented to council for approval at its December 11 meeting.

The district’s official community plan is to be updated by the end of 2025 to incorporate the report’s findings.