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MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2022: District of Kent Council candidates Q&A

Ahead of the Oct. 15 election, The Observer asked candidates for District of Kent Council questions pertaining to some of the biggest issues facing Agassiz-Harrison.
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District of Kent Municipal Hall. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Ahead of the Oct. 15 election, The Observer asked candidates for District of Kent Council questions pertaining to some of the biggest issues facing Agassiz-Harrison.

What have you done to prepare for the position?

Verna Dandedault: I did some research on the District of Kent – Agassiz. Talked to business owners, homeowners, and renters to get a feel for what they want and expect.

Duane Post (incumbent): Being on Council for 3 terms has prepared me for this next term, if elected. I think I’m up to speed on most issues within the District and willing to learn more on those that I’m not.

Kerstin Schwichtenberg (incumbent):

Should I be elected, this would be my second term on council. My approach is to inform myself as much as possible by reading prepared material, relying on the experience and advise of colleagues and staff, engaging outside expertise if I want even more information, and asking lots and lots of questions.

Susan Spaeti (incumbent): I have been an active Councillor for the past eight years (2 terms) and have been part of/liaison on almost all of the committees directed though Council. Recently, through extra learning opportunities, I have completed my Local Government Leadership Level 2 Advanced Certificate through the Local Government Leadership Academy. I am active with volunteering in our community and am always trying to learn ways to help out our community more.

Stan Watchorn (incumbent): I have been a District Counsellor in Kent for the last 4 years and worked very effectively with the existing Counsellors and Mayor in the interests of our community. We have generated over $10.8 million in grant funding in attrition to the recent $10 million for the new pool. I have lived in Agassiz-Harrison since 1981 with my partner Heather Robertson. We have raised our 5 sons here and have our grandchildren in the area. I was the principal of Kent Elementary for over 8 years and I am committed to our community, sustaining the livability and services needed for our healthy future. Previously I had 13 years of experience as a Councillor and Mayor in Harrison. I have a strong background with large construction projects (schools) and a background of over 10 years with Swim Club (the best family activity I can recall). I am fiscally responsible and have a commitment to our community.

In recent years, Rockwell Drive has been hit hard by climate-related disasters, which highlights the need for an alternate emergency route. What would you do to make that happen?

Dandedault: I recognize the need for an alternate emergency route. I would have to have more information on the proposed route and explore other alternatives.

Post: Rockwell Drive is a bit unique because it’s actually a highway and under provincial jurisdiction. That area, along with Harrison Hot Springs should have an emergency evacuation route. DOK, HHS and Seabird Island have been working on this for a number of years. What makes the most sense to me is to utilize the road through Sasquatch Park and connect to Ruby Creek Forest Road using gates that would only be opened when needed during an emergency. I will continue to advocate for this.

Schwichtenberg: I do support an alternate emergency route. The number and scope of the climate based emergencies that we must anticipate have made this alternative route a priority. Having said that, we can’t be naïve as to how challenging this is. Any overland routes have the complicating factors of maintenance, erosion, access, and cost. As well, multiple levels of government must come to an agreement. The District of Kent should continue to advocate for this project by writing letters and meeting with other local or senior government leaders to keep the issue in the forefront. In the meantime, some kind of water based evacuation route could be planned and coordinated.

Spaeti: For the last 8 years, Council has been advocating to repair and upgrade an Emergency Evacuation Route from Rockwell Drive through Sasquatch Provincial Park, coming out around Ruby Creek – where there was a complete road many years ago. Through Lets’emot, our local Community to Community group, we have been in discussions with local First Nations communities and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. I have been part of advocating for this to the Provincial Government as it is their support and funding that this project needs to come from.

Watchorn: I am very supportive of an alternate route and we have a plan for this to happen. It requires support from Highways and Parks as well as our Seabird neighbours. The plan is affordable and I believe it would be supported with grants to make it happen as a public safety issue. We all remember the difficulties when Rockwell Drive is blocked off and it is not something we should have to live with. One of the challenges is to not have the District of Kent take over and be responsible for what is the mandate of Highways. To do so would leave the District of Kent taxpayers responsible for costs that are the responsibility of the Provincial Government and this is one of the main things Council is concerned about. So the solution is to keep pressure on the Ministry of Highways and the Provincial Government so they fulfill their responsibilities.

Briefly summarize your position on economic development and sustainability in the district.

Dandedault: As for economic development and sustainability in the district…..make Agassiz an enticing place to own a business and live in. Be as helpful as we can and work together to retain new and established businesses.

Post: Economic development is important as well. Revitalization tax bylaw helps businesses who make improvements to their property and business; I will continue to support this. Also just to be available and willing to listen to new ideas.

Schwichtenberg: It is my job as councilor to help set up the conditions in the district that are attractive to a diverse and dynamic business community. This includes everything from ensuring that initial district staff contact people are welcoming and provide timely and accurate information to considering housing options and recreation opportunities for employees.

This does not mean, however, that I support any business at any cost. As always, there is a balance. Residents deserve a safe, clean, and unique place to live and business ventures must support that.

Spaeti: Economic Viability and sustainability is vital to the District of Kent. As the Council Liaison for the Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Harrison River Valley, I have advocated and supported increasing our commercial and industrial businesses and the programs that can bring customers to these businesses. I supported a Revitalization Tax Exemption Program to assist commercial property owners who want to upgrade, expand or renovate their properties. Our residents need local business to support, and in turn many businesses also provide great well-paying jobs for residents.

Watchorn: We as a Council have been working making the District of Kent a welcoming place for business development and light industrial development… we are making good progress in both these areas and over the next 2-3 years we will see the results of the work done over the last 4 years. There has been considerable residential development both on Mt. Woodside as well as infilling and densification of residential properties in Agassiz townsite. Both these are good for the community and the economic viability of our community.

The challenge is affordable rental housing and affordable multi-family housing. As a farming community there has been protection of farmland (Agricultural Land Reserve – ALR mandate) and this is understandable as it is both a sustainability and economic issue. The difficulty is that other than infilling with higher density (which is the correct approach) there currently is no affordable solution other than hillside development. Hillside development is extremely expensive to install the services required and as a result the housing resulting is often unaffordable to young families. The prices of homes on Mt. Woodside are often the $1 million range. So … we will need to be creative in working with both the Provincial and Federal governments to see what kind of supports we can generate to increase the affordable housing stock in our community. Without affordable housing businesses and schools will suffer as we do not have places for student and workers to live.

Would you support another attempt at removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve to address housing needs? Why or why not? What would be your ideal alternative?

Dandedault: I do not think it is a good idea to remove productive farm land from the ALR. Growth could be buildings with businesses on the bottom and residence on top, height to be determined.

Post: Being a farmer, I support the Agricultural Land Commission and its support of the Agricultural Land Reserve. However, I did support the application to remove the Teacup land from the ALR for a number of good reasons. As we know, that was not supported by the ALC. At this time, I would not support another application to remove land for housing. For the foreseeable future, I see more development on mountain side for single family development along with some higher density SFD within the townsite. I support some housing above commercial buildings and I think we will have to start to develop higher, five- or six-storey with first-storey parking. I would like to see more of the empty lots developed, i.e. the old Burgess site.

Schwichtenberg: I would not support another attempt at removing land from the ALR. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the reasons I was originally opposed to this proposal have not changed and if anything the events of the last four years have only reinforced them. Food security is the most fundamental obligation of any nation to its citizens. Currently, the only way to do this is to maintain a fertile and productive land base. Building houses on class I farmland is only limiting our options in the future. Secondly, the last correspondence from the land commission was emphatically opposed to the proposal and continuing to pursue this project is not worth the resources that another application would require.

Having said this, it is not lost on me that people and communities need housing. Agassiz is no different from many other communities in the province. Consequently, all ideas must be considered. Well placed multistoried apartments, increased densification including residential housing above commercial space, carriage houses and secondary suites, and consideration of the school grounds are a few of the ideas that have come up. Following the principles of smart growth and involving the expertise of town planners and landscape architects can result in a vibrant, safe, and genuinely walkable community.

Spaeti: Affordable and market housing is desperately needed in our municipality. We need to start focusing on building up in our community, especially in our downtown. Fortunately, there has been a lot of building up on Mount Woodside, but we also need to look to what type of housing can be permitted on our ALC lands. Recently, I have supported building secondary residences on ALR properties as ALC now allows this. I have supported the new RR3 zone which also allows subdivision of less than two-acre, ALC-exempted lots rezoned to even smaller lots which can still house a well and septic system. We need to be creative and use the land that we have to make a safe and walkable community.

Watchorn: I believe the ALC has ruled on this and at this time, I believe it would not be a viable solution to our housing needs. I would hope that the provincial government would recognize the difficult position that this ruling places our community in terms of affordable housing and that the provincial government would work with us to find solutions..

Read an extended Q&A session online at www.agassizharrisonobserver.com.