Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors heard from neighbours worried about traffic from Pender Ocean Discovery Station (PODS) but still put their votes behind the project, making way for a public hearing on zoning amendments in May.
“I’m very supportive of an environmentally friendly business that PODS is proposing and it should employ the younger professionals and perhaps attract similar type people to the Coast, and hopefully it’ll help the entire Coast,” said Leonard Lee, director for Pender Harbour/Egmont, at the April 11 planning committee meeting.
Support aside, Lee said he remained “very concerned” about parking and other issues raised by residents and wanted the public hearing to get more feedback.
Barbara Kappeli and David Twentyman appeared as separate delegations at the committee. Their main concerns were traffic and parking and the long term viability of the project at a site that’s seen businesses come and go.
Twentyman spoke for neighbours living along Dames Road, a cul-de-sac that joins with Irvines Landing Road close to the PODS site.
Twentyman and Kapelli both requested that the northern portion of the site designated as R2 – a zoning that is primarily residential – stay that way.
Twentyman said neighbours don’t want to see increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic along the roads near the site and maintaining the R2 zoning would keep traffic away from the exit to Dames Road.
He also suggested adding speed bumps, installing “no parking” signs and other traffic reduction measures, and building a marina that could be used for local boaters.
A traffic study commissioned by PODS found that 90 parking spots would be required, with 51 spaces on site and 49 spaces created at offsite park-and-ride locations with shuttle service. Since the facility will be built using a phased approach, traffic is expected to increase gradually.
The Ministry of Transportation reviewed the study and has no objections to the approach. It has also indicated support for restricting parking in the area.
Following the residents’ presentations, directors said they would support moving the project forward to a pubic hearing.
Chair and Halfmoon Bay director Lori Pratt acknowledged the traffic and parking issues but called the project “incredibly intriguing.”
Elphinstone director Donna McMahon said it was important to bring the project to a public hearing. “[I] take seriously a lot of the concerns the residents have raised,” she said before noting that some of those concerns, such as the financial viability of the project and parking and traffic issues, fall outside of local government jurisdiction.
Parking and access were also the primary concerns of Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize, but he too was supportive, calling the project in the “greater public interest.”
“I like the idea of having a not-for-profit. I think it would add a lot of prestige to Pender Harbour in the long run,” he said.
The bylaw amendments will now go before the board for second reading, and if they pass public hearing will be arranged for May 14.
The SCRD has already received four letters opposing the development and approximately 100 letters in favour. The Advisory Planning Commission for the area also supports the project with some reservations.
“We understand the issues facing the local residents but we are addressing them,” PODS executive director Michael Jackson told Coast Reporter following the vote, adding, “we’re very happy, we’re delighted it will be going to the next stage…we have a really strong case and I think the people of Pender Harbour are right behind us.”
