Councillors in Gibsons have voted to back an affordable housing project with the Sunshine Coast Housing Society and Click Modular Homes.
The idea has been around for several months, and the housing society has been hoping to get the Town to commit to providing some land. Originally the thought was to create a cluster housing development, but the project that won endorsement at the June 7 committee of the whole meeting involves a different approach.
Housing society coordinator Matt Thomson told the committee that they’ve worked with Town planners to identify five areas set aside as road dedications for what they’re calling a “scattered site development” – Harmony Lane at Franklin Road, Beach Avenue at Glen Road, Bals Lane at Seaview Road, Bals Lane at Glen Road, and Glassford Road at Gower Point Road.
“I think the road rights-of-way are very promising in terms of a kind of low hanging fruit,” Thomson said. “An easily accessible, easy to develop solution that’s also relatively low risk to the Town.”
Thomson said the Harmony/Franklin location is their top choice for the first part of the project because it could fit a single-family home and a second smaller home. He also said the focus would be on creating “workforce rental housing.”
The society is hoping to get $10,000 from Canada Mortgage and Housing, and a grant from the VanCity Community Foundation for a feasibility study and business plan.
It’s also hoping to use money from the Town’s affordable housing fund to cover costs like geotechnical work and development cost charges.
The committee voted to draft a letter of support for the society’s grant applications, signaling the Town’s willingness to offer the land.
“I think what we’re saying to you is, ‘This council wants to move.’ We want to move on this particular item. You have our support,” said Mayor Wayne Rowe.
The committee also voted to start the process of converting the five road dedications to lots that would be eligible for rezoning to residential properties, including advising neighbouring property owners.
Thomson said if this project is successful, the society would also like to revisit the idea of a cluster housing development on Town-owned land near Charman Creek.
“Given that this [housing] is a fairly a hot button issue, this would be a good story for the Town to be telling,” Thomson told the councillors. “You’ve been very willing to come to the table and talk about options.”
Rowe, meanwhile, said he wants to keep in the mix the possibility of taking over the old RCMP detachment property on School Road, which is still owned by the federal government.
“In my mind there’s an opportunity here for a win-win for the federal government, the province, the Town and the housing society,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a window here in the next 12 to 18 months [to get that property].”
