Councillors in Gibsons have voted to make a slight change in how they deal with requests for height variances under existing Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws.
The motion came out of a staff report on “legal background and options for council stating its intentions with regards to additional OCP amendments for height through the remainder of the current term of office,” proposed by Coun. Jeremy Valeriote (and backed by the rest of council) earlier this year.
Town planner Andre Boel told the March 15 regular council meeting that the Town is legally obligated to consider any application for height variances that comes forward, and there’s a standard procedure for dealing with them. The first step is a review by staff, followed by a report to council or committee.
However, Boel suggested it would be legal for council to pass a motion saying that “for the remainder of this council term, any new OCP amendment applications for additional height under OCP Harbour Area Plan Policy 5.1.2 be forwarded to council upon receipt for initial review and council direction.”
Valeriote was pleased with the suggestion. “I believe it’s good to get these [applications] out in the open … and council can give due consideration and at least set the tone.”
Coun. Stafford Lumley said there could be the added benefit of nixing any obviously impractical applications, or ones that aren’t likely to get council support, before staff wastes a lot of time on them.
Coun. Silas White was the lone vote in opposition, citing worries it might send the wrong message.
“I’m concerned that this recommendation almost could be – and I don’t think this was the original intent – but it could be taken to the opposite intent, taken backwards, that we’re very open to varying from the OCP and that’s why we’ll look at variations right away before the process even starts,” he explained.
Valeriote also proposed a complete review of the whole process around the controversial George Hotel development application. That report is not expected until the end of July.
