The developers behind the proposed Gospel Rock Village in Gibsons have completed a traffic study and will be presenting the latest revisions to their plan at a public information meeting next week.
Slated for Block 7 at Gospel Rock, the project would be the first major development in the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan area. It would include a mix of 60 single-family homes, 150 townhouses, and 150 apartment units (of which 30 would be market rental).
The rezoning, if it passes, would allow up to 360 residential units, with nine hectares (23 acres) set aside as park. The developer plans to build in four phases, starting with 60 single-family homes and 50 apartment units. The first 50 townhouses will be built in phase two.
Greenlane Homes consultant Edward Porter appeared at a Nov. 7 committee of the whole meeting to brief councillors on the traffic study and other work such as street design, parks and open space, and guidelines for form and character.
The committee passed recommendations to explore more affordable housing and community amenity contributions and prepare a “life cycle cost analysis” of the Town infrastructure that will be needed to service the project.
Planner Andre Boel said some additional affordable housing options are already being explored with the developer. “One idea that we have discussed with the applicant is to look at secondary suites as part of the single-family homes… It’s pretty clear that there’s a huge need there,” he said.
Mayor Wayne Rowe said as the discussions around Gospel Rock Village continue he’d like councillors to keep in mind its unique situation of being the first project in the area. “The ability to develop the Gospel Rock area does depend on one large development going ahead that’s able to front all of those servicing costs… There are some very significant costs here,” he said.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and residents of the Pratt and Chaster roads area have been urging the Town to start work on extending Shaw Road, via Inglis, to act as the main connector route for the new development. The Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan calls for Chaster and Pratt to be used until the development hits 250 units.
Porter said the existing Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan was “remarkably thoughtful” on the question of future access. “The policy allows for an interim access via Chaster Road, up to a maximum of 250 units, to get the project underway. Our efforts to further investigate traffic and transportation planning looks well beyond Block 7 to consider how we contribute our fair share as part of a long-term solution for the Gospel Rock neighbourhood.”
The committee also passed a recommendation to add a study of cost, phasing and how to pay for the extension to the 2018 budget, and that Greenlane Homes be asked to fund the study.
“I’m glad to see us doing this, because there are clearly a lot of concerns, especially in [SCRD] Area E, about making sure we move ahead as soon as possible with exploring this primary route,” said Coun. Silas White.
Pratt Road resident Susan Rule was in the public gallery and told councillors she now has 233 signatures on a petition calling for the Shaw-Inglis extension to be built before construction starts. She gave councillors a copy of the petition, and expressed disappointment that the Town is not going in that direction.
In a press release announcing the information meeting, which will be Nov. 22 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Gibsons Legion, Greenlane president Ji Yongqiang said, “We appreciate the diligence of town council and staff in wanting to get this right. Thankfully, the clear policy directions align with what we need for a feasible phase one. The costs are significant, but we’re committing to build a long-term asset for the Gospel Rock neighbourhood.
“No one ever said it would be easy,” he added, “but we’re working within OCP policy, continuing in good faith with the Gibsons community.”
