Editor:
Town of Gibsons’ March 15 staff report presents substantial changes to the Stonehurst development.
The past proposal, which the town presented and information with which people used to vote in an October 2020 survey, stated: “Housing will be increased by adding 21 new residential units, designed as a cluster of seven smaller 3 to 4-storey buildings resembling houses.”
Now presented are two 60-foot-tall four-storey condo buildings over an underground parkade built to the lot line of School Road with a 20 per cent density increase to 26 units.
Described is a parkade where 60 cars enter and exit via three large garage doors directly onto the School Road hill at its steepest (21 per cent) grade. Two municipal lots where 20 vehicles now park for free are replaced by 15 spots somewhere in the 3- level underground parkade accessible through three large automatic doors.
Vehicles wanting to enter the parkade may need to stop on the hill while waiting for automatic doors to open. Through traffic behind them would be forced to stop, mid hill. If the town charges for parking, payment control would cause more traffic congestion on School Road hill.
A traffic survey should occur to determine what effects these three accesses will have on traffic flow.
An alternative would be a single access point onto Gibsons Way near the proposed Stonehurst Bistro, with a single entrance/exit with ample space, off the road, to wait for door(s) to open.
The report also states: “The subject property is located within the Harbour Area/Village Landing Character Area. The (town’s) guidelines are aimed at fostering design that retains, reinforces, and enhances the village scale and character of the Harbor Area.” Buildings with three large garage doors built right to the lot line, creating a cavernous feel, certainly doesn’t foster such character.
Denis Prevost, Gibsons
