Councillors in Gibsons want the developer behind a controversial project on Eaglecrest Drive to come back with a new plan that fits the area’s “single-family OCP land use designation of Low Density Residential 1.”
The OCP and zoning amendments requested by the TCD Developments were on the council agenda during a special meeting July 26.
Members of the recently formed Eagleview Neighbours Association, which opposes the Eagleview Heights project as being too dense, packed the gallery hoping to persuade council not to go forward with the bylaw.
Representatives of the developer and the architect briefed council on how the project has progressed since it was first introduced to them at a committee meeting in February and referred to the Advisory Planning Commission. They said they’ve had a lot of feedback and laid out a plan based on that input. It includes two multi-storey buildings on the land’s upper and lower benches, and some single-family duplexes, with much of the property left as green space.
Architect Tim Anken-man said some in the community have mischaracterized the visual impact of the project.
“I understand that [the buildings] appear to be quite large, but they’re really buildings that are about 25 units apiece and when they’re depicted in some of the fashions that they are [by opponents], they look quite massive… But it’s a five-acre site and we’ve pushed the buildings onto just two acres out of the five, so it’s going to appear much larger, but in the context of the entire site it’s quite responsible,” he said.
Planning department staff said they had some reservations about the plan, and councillors did as well.
“We need density and we do need affordability and if we can work toward that without compromising the surrounding neighbourhoods, and hear from the public, I think that would be our best course of action,” said Coun. Stafford Lumley.
Coun. Charlene San Jenko added, “I see the intent of this plan, but I feel right now that it’s missing the mark.”
As well as asking them to come back with a plan that fits the current OCP and zoning, council asked the developer to provide a 3D computer model for the site and surrounding neighbourhoods as part of that plan and work with staff to set up a new information meeting.
