Town of Gibsons committee members recommended advancing a 172-residential project during its Sept. 24 committee of the whole.
Located at Lots A and C Gibsons Way,(near the corner of Gibsons way and Mahan Road) the four buildings proposal consists of one commercial building and three residential apartment buildings that require an Official Community Plan (OCP), a zoning amendment and a development permit.
The OCP amendment specific to Lot C redesignated the area to high density residential from Mixed-Use Commercial.
Lesley-Ann Staats, Gibsons director of planning, explained, “Within the OCP amendment we've also updated the intent and description of the high density residential land use.”
The meeting agenda states the amendment also removes the minimum floor space ratio (FSR) “greater than three-storeys” and “apartments and condominiums” to provide more flexibility in housing design and choice.
Both lots will also need to be rezoned. Lot A will be changed to Upper Gibsons Commercial District 1 (C-1) from industrial.
Lot C, the larger lot is being changed to a new zone, Multi-Family Residential 8 (RM-8).
Staats listed The Harbour proposals and Billy’s Walk as other areas designated as high-density residential where the RM-8 zone has been proposed.
Saying the development permit has not yet been approved, Coun. Annemarie De Andrade noted a Class C stream on Lot C, which does not support fish but is connected to fish habitats.
She asked what the town was doing to ensure the protection of the watercourse and if the findings of the updated development permit area would be considered.
“It is highly likely by the time that a building permit comes through, that OCP amendment will have been adopted,” said Staats. “And at that time, the development permit requirements would be triggered.”
She said at that point the applicant would go through the necessary steps to have a qualified environmental professional do an assessment. De Andrade also recommended glass strips along the proposed glass balcony railings noting that they could be a hazard for birds especially because Gibsons is under the Pacific Flyway.
Committee members recommended proceeding with the proposal and putting it on the table for further discussion.
A public hearing for the OCP and Zoning amendments was also scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
