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

CLEARWATER, B.C. — A developer planning to build more than 100 serviced lots for housing in the heart of Clearwater says he is about ready to throw in the towel.

Doug Borrow of Borrow Enterprises says it has been 10 months since his company submitted its subdivision application and drawings to the District of Clearwater for Phase 1 of Park Place.

But Borrow says the district has refused to move the development forward — or even meet with him. He says he is exasperated and on the verge of cancelling the project.

“We’ve tried every avenue we can to work with the district to get it going and the door is closed. Every avenue we take, we don’t get a response,” Borrow told CFJC Today. “We were hoping to keep going because we have so much invested in it. It’s a shame to just throw it away and move to the next community but right now, our hands are tied.”

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.