A permit to break ground on 28 townhomes on Shoal Way as Phase One of a larger development project, received approval at a regular meeting of the District of Sechelt council, Oct. 2.
Once complete, the development, located at 5981 Shoal Way, will eventually include 117 townhouse-type units. However, the developer recently submitted an application to subdivide the Phase One section of the property and treat it as a separate development. According to a staff report, this proposed development would still meet applicable zoning requirements on the smaller parcel of land to allow 28 townhouse units to be constructed.
Tyson Baker, senior development planner for the district, told council the construction would include building 28 townhomes in six separate buildings on the southeast portion of the property. Baker noted, the housing will still be earmarked for working professionals, such as nurses and teachers, and, as per the zoning conditions, two of the units will be offered to a nonprofit housing operator at a subsidized rate. In total, the proponent is offering a community amenity contribution of a discounted sale on six units, to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society — or another such organization — for below-market rental housing.
Baker said the applicant intends to subdivide a portion of land where the proposed 28 townhouse units would be located, which will be deemed proposed lot one from the rest of the subject property, which will be regarded as proposed lot two.
“So, when the subject property was being rezoned initially, where it was intended on being developed in phases, the applicant submitted a subdivision application and intends to develop the remainder parcel at a later date,” said Baker.
He explained even with the proposed changes, the overall development will remain reflective of the original proposal introduced during the rezoning phase. A rezoning application for the project passed third reading at a regular meeting of council, last October. The proposed amendments included rezoning from Rural 1 (RU-1) lowest-complexity rural zone, to Residential Multiple 1 (RM-1) to allow for increased density, as well as amending the Official Community Plan (OCP) from Infill Area Number 5 to Multifamily Mixed Residential.
Earlier this year, the subject property was granted OCP and rezoning amendments by council, including site-specific provisions allowing increased density for a multi-family development.
Coun. Darren Inkster spoke in favour of the plan and noted it’s been years of waiting for development to take place in the area. He added, the roadway has already been upgraded so it should meet most demands of any future developments.
“It has two schools nearby, one quick walking trail to [Chatelech Elementary] and one five minutes away in another direction, as well as a golf course within 10 minutes, great hiking trails and an arena,” said Inkster. “So, it's a good place to put, in a sense, what would be called the missing middle, affordable housing with families based on the fact we have two schools in the area, decent roadways, facilities and walking trails.”
Coun. Alton Toth also spoke in favour of the plan.
“I mean, the thing is that we've already given the lift to this property when we approved it, the rezoning and [official community plan] previously for 117 units,” said Toth. “So, the fact of the matter is that they want to get building on something and, unlike a developer that might rezone it and flip it or rezone it and hold it, we can actually get some shovels in the ground on some units. That's a big deal, as far as I'm concerned.”
The development permit to build the 28 townhomes was approved by council, with only Coun. Diane McLauchlan opposed.
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