Gibsons council members cleared a procedural hurdle for an eight-unit (four duplex) development proposal at 702 Gibsons Way (next to Walt’s Towing) last week.
At a Nov. 19 committee of the whole, council members decided the structures are considered townhouses (as they’re connected by decks), and so the development is consistent with the Official Community Plan and it won’t require an OCP amendment.
Still required is a Zoning Bylaw amendment to increase density to eight units, where one duplex with secondary suites is currently permitted, and approval of a development permit.
The difficult-to-develop site has seen several proposals come forward since 2018, most recently in January. At that time, council asked the five-unit strata proposal be modified to more closely meet the medium-density residential land use designation in the OCP.
Now, four duplexes are proposed on the long, narrow site, with four units of two-to-three bedrooms and four one-bedroom units.
Staff was directed to start preparing the bylaw amendment and the development permit was referred to the Advisory Design Panel.
