Four new concerns related to the Gospel Rock neighbourhood plan led Gibsons council to move in favour of holding a special committee of the whole meeting July 9.
Municipal planner Michael Epp had presented the June 26 committee of the whole with the results of another round of referral comments. On July 3, council passed the recommendation to hold the special committee meeting.
Comments from organizations like the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) were requested by council in May, so as to gauge reaction to further changes in land use and density.
The results, according to staff, were a number of novel concerns, including use of Kearton Road as a western access point.
"The reason for the change was in the previous round of referrals we received response back from the ALC saying that Kearton Road was their only supportable western access," Epp said.
The SCRD board had included concerns about the viability of Kearton Road as an access point when they voted June 14 to refer a number of a comments to the Town.
"The regional district opposes the creation of a road link from Shaw Road extension to Kearton Road, through two privately owned properties in the [agricultural land reserve] that are within the Elphinstone electoral area," one of the SCRD's comments read. "This proposal should be removed from the plan."
Epp reported to council that the ALC holds the trump card in deciding the conflict. Should they deem the plan to be inconsistent with their interests, Epp said, the bylaw could become null and void.
"We should probably pay attention to that, which is why we made the change to include Kearton Road as the second western access point," he said.
Coun. Gerry Tretick echoed an optimism that council would be able to work through the issues without trouble. As for Kearton Road, "What choice do we have?" he asked.
For Coun. Lee Ann Johnson, access worries centred on establishing a northern connection through the development and how that might be accomplished. Whether or not this is achieved could have a major impact on any future residents, she said.
Johnson pointed to the potential for a municipality to request a road be completed before development starts as one possible way Gibsons could ensure a route is built.
"The puzzle to me is how do we get the guys who own big chunks of property to pay for a road that's not on their property," she said.
