About-face vote on workforce housing

Housing construction. By Ernie Journeys. Free Use Domain. Unsplash.

By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg council reversed the vote from the February Public Works, Planning and Development Standing Committee in order to support the four-unit Northumberland Workforce Housing project at 206 Furnace St., just east of the old Cobourg Memorial Arena.

And though his was one of the votes against it at the committee meeting, Mayor Lucas Cleveland (attending Wednesday's meeting virtually) voiced strong support at Wednesday's council session.

Council had been amenable to the project but, at the committee meeting, Councillor Miriam Mutton vociferously objected to giving away surplus land that could otherwise be sold at market value. She repeated her objections at council, declaring, “I think we have to stop giving away other people's stuff, if I can be so blunt.”

In the end, in a recorded vote, she became the only councillor in opposition.

“I recognize (Mutton's) concern, but I also know things have to start somewhere,” Cleveland said - “this is the starting place.”

“We've talked about subsidizing housing for the workforce, and nothing's been done for years,” Councillor Brian Darling agreed.

“I think it's time we have to step up to the plate. If that land sits there another 10 years, we are not getting any taxes off it.”

The motion includes authorizing staff to withdraw up to $20,000 from the town's Affordable Housing Reserve to cover costs associated with the land-transfer process.