Briefs from the Dec. 7 council meeting
Multi-family residential housing on North and Park Roads moves forward
A development permit for a multi-family housing project on Park Road and reissuing of a permit for a commercial and residential building planned for North Road got the go-ahead from Gibsons Council at its Dec. 7 meeting.
The modern design of the 672 North Road development, adjacent to the Heritage Playhouse, was a concern for Coun. Aleria Ladwig. During meeting debate, she said the proposal was “too far from the form and character guidelines for a heritage area.” She cast the lone vote against issuing an updated permit to replace one approved in 2019, which expired as construction did not start within a two-year period.
The new permit allows for a strata development with 14 residential apartments rather than the 12 proposed in 2019. The building footprint will be slightly larger, with lot coverage increasing to 53 per cent in the revision (under the 80 per cent coverage allowed on the lot). The ground floor commercial space was reduced to 800 square feet, about half the amount planned for in the earlier version. That change was made to add amenity spaces for the residential units including a fitness room, co-working space and shared outdoor area. The onsite parking allocation will remain at 23 spaces.
Mayor Bill Beamish noted that the development, named “Driftwood Gibsons” is believed to be the first PassiveHouse project in the town. According to PassiveHouse Canada’s website, the design, construction practices and materials used in these projects create buildings that consume up to 90 per cent less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings.
Pre-sales of units have started and plans are to break ground in spring of 2022, said project architect Rafael Santa Ana at the meeting.
Council also provided development permit approval for a 28-unit ground-oriented cluster housing development at 834 Park Road, near the intersection with Reed Road. Next steps for the project applicant will be completing its civil design and applications for building permits. Ten buildings of varied design, each containing two or three dwelling units, will be contained on the 1.7-acre development site. Also included will be 35 open and covered parking spaces, pedestrian pathways and outdoor common areas for residents featuring tricycle tracks and community gardening space.
Youth Councillor Program
Council welcomed Dr. Micki McCartney, Regional Director of Capilano University, kálax-ay Campus and Gibsons Rotary Club President Luke Vorstermans to the online meeting to witness 2021/22 Youth Council representative Evie Clarke and alternate Colton Rockford take their oaths of office.
The university and the club partner with the Town in its Youth Councillor Program, which is the first of its kind in the province. The program was established in 2018 to provide opportunity for students to have a voice and to represent youth on issues as they are considered by Council.
Under a recently drafted agreement between the university and Gibsons, program participants will be eligible to apply for six university course credits for the work with the council. In addition, they are compensated with a financial contribution to an education reserve at the end of their two-year term.
Gibsons Bluff evacuation plan project
Council endorsed an application to seek $25,000 from the Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund to prepare an evacuation plan for the Gibsons Bluff area. If the application is successful, the grant will cover the full cost of hiring a consultant to collect data, survey proposed evacuation routes, prepare maps and lay out an evacuation route plan for the neighbourhood. The project would be managed, along with similar planning projects proposed for Egmont and Sechelt’s Tuwanek neighbourhood by the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s Emergency Program.
