Gospel Rock
The Town of Gibsons will hold a public hearing July 24 after council passed first reading of the proposed form and character guidelines for the Gospel Rock Village development at its July 10 meeting.
Last month, planning staff recommended creating a new development permit area (DPA) specific to Gospel Rock because the project would need to meet guidelines in two different existing DPAs.
The Gospel Rock Neigh-bourhood Plan requires council to draft form and character guidelines in conjunction with any rezoning that allows commercial development, which is the case with the Gospel Rock Village proposals.
The guidelines include requirements to follow “West Coast design elements,” use local materials as much as possible, have “varied building forms and rooflines,” use underground parking, and include electric vehicle charging stations and public art.
Public hearing begins at 6 p.m. July 24 in the council chamber.
Eagleview Heights
Council also voted July 10 to authorize the development permit for the Eagleview Heights project.
The project has faced some community opposition, despite changes to the design intended to address concerns about density and height.
The project has to meet the criteria of Development Permit Area 8, which covers “cluster lots,” and director of planning Lesley-Ann Staats told council that the proposed form and character of the project was endorsed by the Advisory Planning Commission last December.
The five-acre (two-hectare) parcel is bounded by Eaglecrest Drive to the west and Stewart Road to the east and the developer’s site plan calls for buildings on the upper and lower benches to be separated by green space.
Road closure for housing project
Council has given three readings to a bylaw that would close a road dedication linking Harmony Lane with Franklin Road so the land can be converted to a residential lot for an affordable housing project.
Earlier this year, council approved a 99-year lease on the property with the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society as well as $50,000 from the Town’s affordable housing reserve to help with the project, which will be a single-family home with a secondary suite and a garden suite for rental at 25 per cent below market value.
The Society won’t be able to use the entire lot, however. Town staff told councillors some will have to be used as an easement to ensure access to a neighbouring home which was built to face what was supposed to be a future road, and a six-metre right-of-way will be in place along one of the lot boundaries to allow travel between Harmony and Franklin.
Members of the public who wish to speak on the closure will have an opportunity when council addresses the bylaw at its July 24 meeting.
