The District of 蜜桃视频appcouncil opted to put a $250,000 community benefit from FortisBC into the municipality’s capital reserve fund.
Despite District staff recommending transferring the money into either the general capital reserve fund (GCR) or the community amenity provision fund, council members felt the capital reserve fund was a more appropriate option.
“FortisBC offered the District a community benefit of $250,000, which was provided upon issuance of the TUP [Temporary Use Permit],” District planner Robyn Hay told the council.
Hay said that staff were seeking direction from council regarding the allocation of the community benefit and offered two preferred fund options.
“Option one is to allocate the funds to the general capital reserve fund. The benefit of this fund is that there's a lot of flexibility on what the funds could be allocated towards. Should council direct staff to allocate the funds to the general capital reserve, staff intend to recommend, through the District's financial plan, that the funds be directed towards a priority capital project,” she said.
“Option two is to allocate the funds to the community amenity provision fund. The community benefit is not a community amenity contribution (CAC), but staff see the CAC policy as relevant if the benefit goes to the community amenity, and it will be managed according to the CAC policy. These funds can be used for things such as active transportation, park upgrades and child care facilities.”
While the recommendation was to put the funds towards a specific capital project, it wouldn’t be decided which project would get the funding until a future council meeting.
The community contribution
On Sept. 25, 2024, councillors voted in favour of issuing a TUP for FortisBC’s laydown yard.
Councillors only narrowly supported the permit, voting 4-3 at the end of a mammoth public hearing for both the laydown yard and FortisBC’s workers’ accommodation lodge, which was opposed.
As part of the issuance of the laydown yard TUP, FortisBC offered a voluntary $250,000 community benefit.
Located to the northeast of the Valleycliffe neighbourhood, the yard will be used to store materials and equipment used for the Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP) Project and is currently forecasted to be active until the end of 2026.
“Site clearing began on April 7, 2025. FortisBC aims to be operational by the end of May or early June,” reads the report to council.
Council comments
Councillors initially seemed inclined to support allocating the community benefit to the CAC fund, but ultimately supported Coun. Jenna Stoner’s amendment to place it in the capital reserve fund instead.
“I think it's kind of six of one, half a dozen of the other in terms of their large deficits across the board, and we could use the money anywhere really, but to me, this isn't actually a community amenity contribution in any way, shape or form,” Stoner said.
“This is the equivalent of tax in lieu of payment, because it's a Temporary Use Permit. We don't actually tax it for what it is, because it still falls under the resource level. And so it should actually just be taxed in lieu of taxes, and then it should fall under our general capital reserve and not be seen in any way, shape or form, as an additional amenity.”
Coun. Andrew Hamilton threw his support behind the motion amendment as it was “more in line” with the general capital reserve.
“Of course, we can have the debate about which reserve needs more money, or which we spend more money from ... but I think this is more in line with the general capital reserve, as there's no mechanism for taxation for this project,” he said.
“But there are impacts to our infrastructure and to our community that are well deeper than community amenities and those benefits that are, in my mind, additional on top of the core infrastructure needs that our general capital reserve pays for.”
Coun. John French said his preference was always to allocate the funds to the general capital reserve.
“So I support the amendment. And quite frankly, at this point, I'm happy to see any cash, tangible community benefit directed to the District of 蜜桃视频appfrom this project finally coming to the District of Squamish.”
The motion passed 6-1 with Coun. Chris Pettingill opposed.
For more information on the Eagle Mountain Pipeline project, visit the .
