Gibsons council passed a set of seven recommendations from staff to further develop the Gospel Rock neighbourhood draft plan at its Tuesday, Nov. 1 meeting.
It was voted to cap the amount of waterfront properties at 10 while maintaining the 30 per cent cluster designation.
Staff were directed to explore the possibility of the Town's remaining 70 per cent being reserved for public use, a term council felt was ambiguous.
Municipal planner Michael Epp said the remaining lands would be designated as park, making them available for public use.
"It was my concern that this area be available to the public, but the Town not be committed to any sort of pre-definition of what that might look like," Coun. LeeAnn Johnson said after Coun. Bob Curry requested staff come back with a definition of public use.
Entrenched in the discussion were further concerns around a lack of communication with provincial authorities like the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI).
A letter received from Gospel Rock landowner Andrew Lai, a Vancouver resident, claimed a lack of feedback on the planning process.
"It now appears the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure are suggesting that they may want to punch a road across that property," Mayor Barry Janyk offered as a reason for why Lai might be seeking feedback at this time. "There are only two possible routes; one is across Mr. Lai's property."
The sixth recommendation of staff was to allow for a meeting with MOTI to explain council's current position regarding Bayview Heights Road and the potential of east/west access from the plan area.
Another recommendation, however, directed staff to obtain clarity on the Agricultural Land Commission's position regarding the environmentally sensitive Seward Creek.
Staff were also directed to look at changes to the green space area that would coincide with the creek and to do so in a way that might be environmentally beneficial to both Gibsons and Elphinstone.
Further approvals were given to the possibility of plaques or other artworks being used to recognize the cultural value of the area and making room in the plan for a potential north/south green belt without specifying its exact location.
Garbage collection
Staff requested a resolution allowing them to pursue offers for a new waste disposal contract of an initial term of three years and subject to two extensions at one year each.
Director of finance Ian Poole said the request would allow the Town to pursue the possibility of organic waste collection.
Council members were concerned about being tied down to a three-year contract while the Sunshine Coast Regional District has expressed interest in pursuing organic pilot projects in the near future.
After a long discussion, council approved an amended resolution that gave staff the authorization to issue a request for proposals with options of one, two or three-year terms.
Poole warned council that the strategy might drive the price up, as potential bidders might be wary of losing the contract before it pays off.
Council also asked to amend the resolution to include an optional five-year term extension, instead of two extensions of one year.
Proclamations
Three proclamations were signed at the Nov. 1 meeting.
First to be designated was Nov. 14 as World Diabetes Day in the Town of Gibsons. The proclamation brings the Town in line with a United Nations resolution designed to draw attention to the 250 million people affected worldwide by the disease.
For their donations of food hampers to those in need on the Sunshine Coast during the holiday season, the week of Nov. 27 was proclaimed Elves Week.
The group provided parcels to approximately 760 homes on the Coast last year.
Embracing the concept of restorative justice, a means of bringing together victims of crime, offenders and the community, council proclaimed the week of Nov. 13 Restorative Justice Week.
