Sechelt council approved a development permit for Palmeros at their March 5 regular council meeting.
The retail store on the corner of Wharf Avenue and Orchard Street will be expanded with a new partial (43.9 sq. metres) second storey and a small ground floor addition of 15.89 sq. metres.
The change will take away one parking stall from the pad beside the building and in lieu a bike rack will be provided, a report from the development planner stated.
Councillors were happy with the drawings presented, which show the new addition will work into the current design and colour scheme.
"It looks very functional and I think it adds to the façade of the downtown core," Coun. Doug Hockley said before moving that council approve the development permit.
All councillors voted in favour.
Bethel Baptist Church
The District is drawing up a development variance permit for Bethel Baptist Church after council gave their initial approval of planned renovations during a Feb. 26 committee meeting.
The church wants to construct a partial second storey addition of 187.9 sq. metres to accommodate a Sunday school area, meeting room and office space.
The church is also seeking a small ground floor addition and renovation that would result in an accessible washroom and elevator/lift as well as a stairwell linking the top and bottom floors.
The church is proposing a major roof reconstruction during the renovation and pitching improvements to Mermaid Street and parking in the area.
Hockley said the plan was "another nice architectural rendering" and noted, "this is getting exciting. The downtown core seems to be improving by the minute here."
Downtown revitalization
Council gave their approval to expand the membership of the downtown revitalization advisory committee to include arts and culture, youth and First Nations groups.
Previously the committee of 10 members represented organizations with more of a business, senior or academic focus.
New members that will be invited to join the group include high school representatives, Sechelt Indian Band representatives and the District of Sechelt arts coordinator.
