Affordable housing through densification is at the heart of draft amendments to the official community plans (OCP) for all rural areas of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
The amendments were presented to the SCRD’s infrastructure services committee recently. Senior planner Yuli Siao said the amendments seek to create land-use opportunities and conditions for affordable housing through infill development. They promote smaller homes, density bonuses and innovative sewage treatment systems.
A set of common policies has been identified to strengthen affordable housing policies for rural OCPs. The proposed amendments are for: Egmont/Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone and West Howe Sound OCPs. A staff report in June to the SCRD said the Hillside/Port Mellon and Twin Creek areas “were not considered suitable locations for higher-density affordable housing because of their predominantly industrial, rural and resource extraction land uses.”
The OCP amendment bylaws will be considered at the SCRD board and then will be forwarded for comment to the advisory planning commissions, the shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh nations, the Sunshine Coast Housing Committee, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the municipal governments of Sechelt and Gibsons.
A public information meeting will be held to gather comments regarding the proposed bylaws.
