A more generous tenant relocation policy will be applied to all new housing projects where an existing rental building is demolished in 91原创 City 鈥� and there is a possibility that those rules could be also be applied to two older development applications made before the policy was updated.
That was the outcome of a 91原创 City council debate to clarify the issue at their .
91原创 City Council heard two more housing projects will likely be covered by an older, less generous tenant relocation policy that sets minimum levels of compensation, like the case of the Pyramid project.
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After a housing project was permitted to proceed under older tenant relocation rules, Councillor Delaney Mack, with the support of councillor Leith White, argued for a resolution setting a cut-off date of July 22, 2024, which is when the new policy, CO 84 was adopted, after which the old policy, CO 81, could not be implemented.
In the case of the application to tear down the aging Pyramid apartments rental building on 5360 204th St. and construct a bigger replacement, the older rules of CO 81 had just been passed at the time application was made, in 2022.
What complicated the matter was the fact the design has since been revised from 12 to six stories and from a metal structure to wood.
However, because the building has the same footprint as before, the older compensation rules still applied and based on that, council approved it. A staff report to council said the "updated six-storey design acts as a continuation of the original application [made before the new guidelines took effect]" and therefore the new policy didn't apply.
Mack, who called it a "judgment call gone wrong," said there was supposed to be a hold on new applications until the revised policy was passed.
Councillor Paul Albrecht supported the call for clarity, but objected to the comment.
"We have to be clear in that language. In this one here, we weren't," Albrecht said.
"People can disagree and they're entitled to disagree. To say that we made a bad decision, I think is disrespectful"
"I think that in terms of any failing, that's on council and us as a group," Mack responded.
"And it's time to step up to do better, to protect our vulnerable tenants. But I'm not disparaging staff at all. I think it's [our] responsibility and the buck stops at council."
Mayor Nathan Pachal said "a commitment to CO 84 is well in order, and I'm happy to do that."
Council voted unanimously to support a modified version of the motion by Mack and White, setting the July cut-off, and directing staff to continue to apply the new tenant relocation policy to all new development applications, but without language that would have covered the next 12 months.
Councillors were also advised that just two pending projects, on Eastleigh and Michaud Crescents, would both be covered by the older tenant compensation policy, but council would have the option, when the two separate developments come back for final approval, to impose the new standards.
The approval of the Pyramid proposal cannot be rescinded.
In July of last year, council unanimously to help people who live in purpose-built, market-priced rental buildings facing redevelopment.
Previously, the maximum compensation a long-term tenant could claim was six months rent. That rose to as much as 16 months, in cases involving "vulnerable" tenants.
Compensation for moving expenses were boosted, from $750 to $900 for one-bedroom units and more for larger suites and the vulnerable. Developers were required to help displaced tenants find a similar home. Eligible renters may return to the redeveloped building at 20 per cent below market rent.
