Belfast development group looks to build affordable homes

The Belfast Community Development Corporation will seek funding to kickstart an affordable housing option on their property adjacent to Belfast Highland Greens and Lord Selkirk Campground.

“We need more young families living in Belfast. Affordable housing is a big part of encouraging families to set up,” corporation chair Mark Booth said.

The corporation is looking into the viability of developing 10, two-bedroom modular homes on what is known as the old driving range at the Belfast Greens. Each would be worth between $175,000 and $200,000 and would be around 750 to 800 square feet.

“They don’t look like trailers, they look like homes,” Barry Galloway, a board member told council.

He added the group needs an engineer to advise about what is possible but a cul-de-sac, possibly separated from the recreational area with a barrier, could be an option.

Some local residents don’t want to see housing on the property in such close proximity to the shoreline, a pioneer cemetery and one of Belfast’s few hubs for family recreation and the golf course as a major tourism draw.

Matt Kenney and Rob Hartley own Wild Pines Cabins on the east side of the road leading to the golf course. The development being discussed is across from that.

“Whether it’s trailers or multi-million dollar mansions, it’s not the right place,” said Mr Hartley, who wants to preserve the spirit of the land which has been growing as a community recreation and tourism hub over time, not a residential area.

“We’re not against development,” Mr Kenney said, but he suggests the BCDC should find a different location.

Creating a residential area at that location could impact the leisurely atmosphere they’ve fostered and bank on for their business, they said.

At a January 17 council meeting, Belfast Watershed Area coordinator Sherry Pelkey noted local development controversy shows the importance of the municipality working to take control of land use and planning locally. By putting a plan in place the municipality could govern zoning and have a stronger say.

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If funding is secured, the corporation would begin a more thorough public consultation process at that time, Mr Booth said.

If the location won’t work for community members, the corporation will go back to the drawing board or scrap the idea. At this point BCDC is gathering information and hopes to submit a proposal for funding.

In 2022 BCDC considered the viability of developing boutique Sea-Can (inter-modal shipping containers) hotel accommodation and shops at Pinette Provincial Park to support improvements and maintenance of public space. This idea was scrapped.

In 2022 the corporation had considered developing a wellness centre with an affordable housing component.

“At that point, we got some rough numbers, and they were just way too expensive for our community to do. So we just dropped it,” Mr Booth said.

Mr Kenney, a former member of BCDC’s wellness centre sub-committee, brought up issues with the corporation not hosting public annual general meetings or financial statements required of registered not-for-profit organizations.

Mr Booth told The Graphic it’s true BCDC hasn’t held an AGM in the past few years. However, the group will host one in March.

The current board of directors includes Mr Booth, Alan Buchanan, Sylvia Hughes, William MacGuigan, Ian Petrie, Chris Profit and Frieda Billard.

Rachel Collier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Graphic