Friday, November 30, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Whistler to host Ironman Canada next August
Penticton mayor calls August date 'predatory'
CBC News Posted: Oct 12, 2012 7:37 AM PT Last Updated: Oct 12, 2012
The Penticton Ironman Canada's last race was in 2012. Kelowna loses Ironman bid to Whistler.
Officials in Whistler, B.C. are celebrating after learning the town has been chosen to host the next five Ironman Canada races, starting next year on Aug. 25.
The World Triathlon Corporation has confirmed the resort community will take over the event from Penticton, which bowed out last year after holding the Ironman for 30 years.
Tourism Whistler president Barrett Fisher says the race is a natural fit for the resort community.
"Whistler has a number of natural assets when it comes to our mountains, our lakes and valley trail infrastructure which make it an ideal location to host such an event," said Fisher.
Kelowna and Huntsville, Ontario, were also in the running to host the Ironman race, which has athletes competing in a course that includes cycling, swimming and running.
Kelowna's Mayor Walter Gray says despite the loss, Kelowna remains committed to establishing itself as a centre for multi-sport excellence.
"We wanted it very badly for Kelowna we're naturally disappointed in the announcement that it's going to Whistler - but good on Whistler - and congratulations to them," said Gray.
Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton says the World Triathlon Corporation made a "predatory" decision by scheduling the Whistler Ironman next year, on the same day as Penticton's new extreme race event.
Penticton gave up the gruelling triathlon -- which attracts thousands of athletes annually -- in order to work with another company and focus on a new challenge series also set for Aug. 25.
Last year Penticton held its last Ironman on Aug. 26, 2012. The first Whistler Ironman Canada event will happen on Aug. 25. The event will then be held in July for the following four years.
CBC News Posted: Oct 12, 2012 7:37 AM PT Last Updated: Oct 12, 2012
The Penticton Ironman Canada's last race was in 2012. Kelowna loses Ironman bid to Whistler.
Officials in Whistler, B.C. are celebrating after learning the town has been chosen to host the next five Ironman Canada races, starting next year on Aug. 25.
The World Triathlon Corporation has confirmed the resort community will take over the event from Penticton, which bowed out last year after holding the Ironman for 30 years.
Tourism Whistler president Barrett Fisher says the race is a natural fit for the resort community.
"Whistler has a number of natural assets when it comes to our mountains, our lakes and valley trail infrastructure which make it an ideal location to host such an event," said Fisher.
Kelowna and Huntsville, Ontario, were also in the running to host the Ironman race, which has athletes competing in a course that includes cycling, swimming and running.
Kelowna's Mayor Walter Gray says despite the loss, Kelowna remains committed to establishing itself as a centre for multi-sport excellence.
"We wanted it very badly for Kelowna we're naturally disappointed in the announcement that it's going to Whistler - but good on Whistler - and congratulations to them," said Gray.
Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton says the World Triathlon Corporation made a "predatory" decision by scheduling the Whistler Ironman next year, on the same day as Penticton's new extreme race event.
Penticton gave up the gruelling triathlon -- which attracts thousands of athletes annually -- in order to work with another company and focus on a new challenge series also set for Aug. 25.
Last year Penticton held its last Ironman on Aug. 26, 2012. The first Whistler Ironman Canada event will happen on Aug. 25. The event will then be held in July for the following four years.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
ILLEGAL SPACES
Changes to zoning bylaw to exclude basement floor areas from gross floor area calculations.
Homeowners now able to apply for building permits to legalize over height crawlspaces.
There are many residential dwellings throughout Whistler with floor spaces, such as over height crawlspaces, that do not have valid building permits or do not comply with current zoning regulations or density restrictions. Many of these spaces did not obtain building permits, when they were constructed, because they would count towards the maximum gross floor area for a property and result in a total gross floor area (GFA) exceeding the maximum permitted GFA for the property.
These illegal spaces have created uncertainty for property owners, contractors, and realtors with respect to zoning and building code compliance, in addition to potential life safety, insurance, and liability implications for owners
A recent zoning amendment bylaw excludes basement floor areas from gross floor area calculations. This provides homeowners with an opportunity now to apply for building permits to legalize existing over height crawlspaces or basements, or to apply for building permits for construction of new crawlspaces.
Click on the link below for the full story:
http://www.whistler.ca/illegalspaces
Changes to zoning bylaw to exclude basement floor areas from gross floor area calculations.
Homeowners now able to apply for building permits to legalize over height crawlspaces.
There are many residential dwellings throughout Whistler with floor spaces, such as over height crawlspaces, that do not have valid building permits or do not comply with current zoning regulations or density restrictions. Many of these spaces did not obtain building permits, when they were constructed, because they would count towards the maximum gross floor area for a property and result in a total gross floor area (GFA) exceeding the maximum permitted GFA for the property.
These illegal spaces have created uncertainty for property owners, contractors, and realtors with respect to zoning and building code compliance, in addition to potential life safety, insurance, and liability implications for owners
A recent zoning amendment bylaw excludes basement floor areas from gross floor area calculations. This provides homeowners with an opportunity now to apply for building permits to legalize existing over height crawlspaces or basements, or to apply for building permits for construction of new crawlspaces.
Click on the link below for the full story:
http://www.whistler.ca/illegalspaces
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
B.C. announces HST 'transitional rules' on new homes
By Michael Smyth, The Province February 17, 2012
BC Finance Miniater Kevin Falcon has announced the details of the HST rollback on new homes, which will involve raising the HST rebate threshold until the tax is finally scrapped on April 1, 2013.Photograph by: Nick Procaylo , PNGVICTORIA — The government will raise its new-housing HST rebate threshold to $850,000 from the current $525,000 to help offset the consumer cost of the unpopular tax, until it is finally scrapped on April 1 next year.
It will also introduce a similar rebate for new recreational and secondary homes built outside of greater Vancouver and Victoria, to stimulate that market until the tax is gone.
The long-awaited HST “transitional rules” for the new-home market are designed to provide certainty and fairness until the tax is cancelled, said Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.
“The homebuilding industry has been looking for clarity and certainty and that’s exactly what we’re delivering today,” said Falcon, who also confirmed for the first time that the HST will be officially scrapped on April Fool’s Day next year.
The HST was voted down in last summer’s referendum, and Falcon defended the lengthy timeline for returning to the old provincial sales tax.
“When you are going backwards, this is uncharted territory — we’re the only jurisdiction in the world that has done this,” he said, while attacking a suggestion by NDP leader Adrian Dix that the HST should be scrapped by this June.
“It’s irresponsible to suggest ridiculous, unreasonable, irrational timelines like that,” Falcon said. “It would be a catastrophe.”
Instead, Falcon said winding down the HST on April 1 next year is “the fastest date we can get there responsibly” and the transitional rules for new housing will assist a market hit particularly hard by the tax.
Starting on April 1 this year, the government will provide a partial HST rebate on new homes priced at up to $850,000. The amount of the rebate will max out at $42,500, will apply to more than 90-per-cent of new homes, and will mean new home prices will be roughly the same under HST and PST. The HST does not apply on re-sale homes.
For secondary and vacation homes outside of greater Victoria and Vancouver, which had been subject to the full HST on the entire purchase price, the government will bring in same $850,000 rebate threshold.
“This will be a very positive impact for the industry,” Falcon said.
The government also announced that for newly built homes where construction begins before April 1, 2013, but ownership and possession occur after, purchasers will not pay the seven-per-cent provincial portion of the HST. Instead, purchasers will pay a temporary, transitional provincial tax of two-per-cent on the full home price.
New home builders, who earlier complained buyers were waiting on the sidelines until the HST was scrapped, were pleased with the transition rules.
“The industry is going to be quite happy,” said M.J. Whitemarsh, CEO of the B.C. division of the Canadian Homebuilders Association. “I think people will get out and start buying again.”
“We’re very happy with what has happened,” said Peter Simpson, president of the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association, and a fierce HST critic. “This gives us the clarity and relief we’ve been asking for.”
msmyth@theprovince.com
BC Finance Miniater Kevin Falcon has announced the details of the HST rollback on new homes, which will involve raising the HST rebate threshold until the tax is finally scrapped on April 1, 2013.Photograph by: Nick Procaylo , PNGVICTORIA — The government will raise its new-housing HST rebate threshold to $850,000 from the current $525,000 to help offset the consumer cost of the unpopular tax, until it is finally scrapped on April 1 next year.
It will also introduce a similar rebate for new recreational and secondary homes built outside of greater Vancouver and Victoria, to stimulate that market until the tax is gone.
The long-awaited HST “transitional rules” for the new-home market are designed to provide certainty and fairness until the tax is cancelled, said Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.
“The homebuilding industry has been looking for clarity and certainty and that’s exactly what we’re delivering today,” said Falcon, who also confirmed for the first time that the HST will be officially scrapped on April Fool’s Day next year.
The HST was voted down in last summer’s referendum, and Falcon defended the lengthy timeline for returning to the old provincial sales tax.
“When you are going backwards, this is uncharted territory — we’re the only jurisdiction in the world that has done this,” he said, while attacking a suggestion by NDP leader Adrian Dix that the HST should be scrapped by this June.
“It’s irresponsible to suggest ridiculous, unreasonable, irrational timelines like that,” Falcon said. “It would be a catastrophe.”
Instead, Falcon said winding down the HST on April 1 next year is “the fastest date we can get there responsibly” and the transitional rules for new housing will assist a market hit particularly hard by the tax.
Starting on April 1 this year, the government will provide a partial HST rebate on new homes priced at up to $850,000. The amount of the rebate will max out at $42,500, will apply to more than 90-per-cent of new homes, and will mean new home prices will be roughly the same under HST and PST. The HST does not apply on re-sale homes.
For secondary and vacation homes outside of greater Victoria and Vancouver, which had been subject to the full HST on the entire purchase price, the government will bring in same $850,000 rebate threshold.
“This will be a very positive impact for the industry,” Falcon said.
The government also announced that for newly built homes where construction begins before April 1, 2013, but ownership and possession occur after, purchasers will not pay the seven-per-cent provincial portion of the HST. Instead, purchasers will pay a temporary, transitional provincial tax of two-per-cent on the full home price.
New home builders, who earlier complained buyers were waiting on the sidelines until the HST was scrapped, were pleased with the transition rules.
“The industry is going to be quite happy,” said M.J. Whitemarsh, CEO of the B.C. division of the Canadian Homebuilders Association. “I think people will get out and start buying again.”
“We’re very happy with what has happened,” said Peter Simpson, president of the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association, and a fierce HST critic. “This gives us the clarity and relief we’ve been asking for.”
msmyth@theprovince.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)