During its Nov. 5 Regular Meeting, Gibsons council gave third reading to the “Billy’s Walk” development in Lower Gibsons.
The Frits de Vries Architects’ project includes 49 housing units across four buildings: two fourplexes, a 12-unit apartment building and a building with 12 strata units and 17 rental units.
Three of the 17 rental units will be rented at affordable rates through a housing agreement.
Located on Gibsons Way, the development will consolidate Lots 19, 20, 21 and 24, which surround the historic Stonehurst site, into one parcel.
A pedestrian connection would provide a route for both people on foot and cyclists to move through the development.
The project has received feedback from the Advisory Design Panel, the town’s infrastructure services department and Gibson's Landing Heritage Society throughout the application process. Because it complies with the Official Community Plan, no public hearing was held for the development, as per provincial legislation. The developer did, however, hold a public information session last month.
Addressing interruption from a member of the public at the meeting, Mayor Silas White explained the land use for this area goes back over a decade.
“This land was identified at that time by the community as being appropriate for more density, and that's what we're voting on today,” White said. “This is a place that's a spot in town that's walkable to Lower Gibson's businesses, to amenities.”
White highlighted some of the steps that have been taken to make the project fit with Gibsons including the active transportation walkability through the property and ensuring people who are currently living in a boarding house on the property are going to be rehoused affordably into the new development.
In addition to giving third reading, council moved that the architect and developer work with the Gibson's Heritage Society and staff on integrating seaside village design elements, noting again how responsive the developer has been to feedback.
The development’s next step is consideration of adoption.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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