Councillors at Tuesday's planning committee meeting recommended the Pacific Spirit development go to public hearing, after seeing yet another draft of the five- and six-storey commercial/residential development planned for Sechelt's waterfront.
On Oct. 4, council asked proponents of the plan to look at changing the design to fit more closely with the official community plan (OCP). At the time there were issues raised by the public around the development's size, height, view corridors and distance from the waterfront.
The latest plan calls for an increase in units from 79 to 95, although the development's total building area has decreased from 156,855 sq. ft. to 152,901 sq. ft. The change is due to the overall unit size decreasing to about 12,000 sq. ft. from 15,000 sq. ft.
The commercial retail square footage, planned for the base of the structure, has increased to 9,924 sq. ft. from 6,855 sq. ft. The plan calls for two-, five- and six-storey buildings to be erected at the waterfront site at the corner of Teredo Street and Inlet Avenue where the failed Seascape Condos development now sits. The space between the two buildings has been widened to provide for more of a view corridor under the new plan. The width of the view corridor has increased from 23.9 ft. to 64.6 ft.
The entire development has also been shifted back on the property under the new plan, allowing for more distance from the ocean and more public space on the ocean side of the development. Publicly accessible space has increased from 40 per cent of the total site to 64 per cent under the new plan.
District development planner Angela Letman said the Pacific Spirit development now fits within most of the OCP guidelines, noting added height is allowable in exchange for added public space.
"What the OCP says about height is that an increase to eight storeys can be considered on a site specific basis if 10 per cent of the site is designated public open space per floor above three floors," Letman said.
There has been much controversy over the plan in the past. Recently members of the Sechelt Village Residents Association have been asking the public to write letters of petition against the project. A letter the association was handing out laid out some concerns with the project including its height, size, urban style and possible interference with the waterfront walkway.
Mayor Cam Reid noted he has heard the concerns of citizens and recognizes the parcel in question is a controversial property.
"There are certainly different camps on this matter. People have been lobbying council and there has been a very active campaign against this project, but some people have been showing some interest as well. History shows us that anything on this piece of property is very divisive. Nothing has been easy on that part of land," he said.
Councillors in general seemed happy with the changes made, although Coun. Mike Shanks noted he was disappointed the number of units were increased and the height of the building was not decreased. Coun. Keith Thirkell said he would rather see the height increase than sacrifice the view corridor and public space planned for the development.
"Allowing six storeys also allows the developer to give us 64 per cent open space. I realize people see height as sometimes disturbing, but I'd rather see height than sprawl," Thirkell noted.
Council was concerned about traffic safety in the area should the project proceed. Letman noted a traffic impact study would have to be completed before fourth reading and final adoption of the plan.
Thirkell, Shanks, Coun. Darren Inkster and Reid voted in favour of recommending the proposal receive first reading and go to public hearing. Councillors Ed Steeves, Barry Poole and Warren Allan were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
The Pacific Spirit plan is expected to come to council for first reading and referral to a public hearing sometime in February.
