West Sechelt residents opposed to the construction of three-storey condominiums in their neighbourhood presented a petition to council with 130 signatures on Nov. 2 – and it seems the developer is responding to their concerns.
Director of planning and development Andre Isakov said the developer of 5520 McCourt Road is voluntarily changing plans to keep condos within the two-storey height limit acceptable to neighbours.
West Sechelt resident Bob Sangster explained that the property has been held by different owners and had different plans over the years. He said that in 2015, the three-storey condominium plan met with strong objection from residents at a public hearing.
“After reviewing the revised drawings it would appear to us that any changes made were primarily cosmetic,” Sangster said, noting the developer “is still planning to construct eight buildings, of which six are still three levels.”
He said allowing three-storey buildings in the area would be “ludicrous” and that the taller buildings would be “overwhelming” to neighbours and “obliterate their views.”
West Sechelt Com-munity Association president Martyn Wilson then presented council with the petition against the development.
Isakov explained that current zoning in the area allows 10.5 metres in height so the developers of 5520 McCourt Road don’t need a rezoning application to get to work, only a development permit, which has yet to come to council for approval.
“Having said that, this applicant has been very cooperative in meeting with the community association already and presenting a previous draft development permit application,” Isakov said.
“They’ve also come back and said they’re voluntarily looking at again reworking it and coming back with something that would be in line with all the units being two storeys high.”
