Developer ready to pull the plug on Clearwater residential project due to lack of cooperation from district

The project would add a total of 112 serviced residential lots — 34 in the first phase — between Park Drive and Highway 5 in the community. Now, a large sign at the site says, ‘Canceled (sic) due to lack of interest from the District of Clearwater.'”

Despite the sign, Borrow says there is still an opportunity to make the project happen. However, he has been approached by other nearby communities in need of residential development, and he is tempted to turn his back on Clearwater.

“We’ve tried every avenue we can to try and get some answers and get this proceeding. We just get no response,” he said. “We’re no farther ahead than we were right at the start.”

Borrow says he finds the lack of response from the District of Clearwater surprising, considering how often civic leaders talk about the need for housing in order to attract professionals to the community.

“Every other newscast is, ‘The ER is closed. We have no doctors. We can’t attract people,'” he said. “But we need the housing first to do the attracting. There’s a teacher shortage in Clearwater and lack of housing for the teachers, as well.”

Borrow estimates the development would generate $700,000 in annual tax revenue for the district’s coffers, in addition to $1 million in one-time development cost charges (DCCs), which go toward infrastructure upgrades.

Reached by CFJC Today, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell declined to comment on the matter. He anticipates the district will issue a statement in the future.

by James Peters

Developer ready to pull the plug on Clearwater residential project due to lack of cooperation from district

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