The latest iteration of a draft neighbourhood plan for Gospel Rock has had a generally favourable review from members of the previous Gospel Rock select committee and will soon be open for public comment.
The Gospel Rock refinement working committee presented its revised "hybrid option" at a meeting Monday, June 8 and took comments from the select committee.
"We're ready. We are confident we have something to take to the public that articulates, as much as we can, some level of compromise and we'll see if the community is willing to go for that," said Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk.
Key changes in the hybrid plan include elimination of Franklin Road as an access point for the neighbourhood, elimination of a road running along the eastern side of the development to increase the size of an undeveloped wildlife corridor, an increase of total dwelling units from 700 to 750, a limited number of apartment style buildings and shifting the emphasis from single-family to cluster type units.
Still in the plan is some waterfront development shouldering a large strip of undeveloped land, which includes Gospel Rock itself.
Director of planning Chris Marshall said the hybrid plan will come to council on Tuesday, June 15. There, council can vote to send the plan to a public meeting to gather comment and "to see if there are changes that people are suggesting that makes sense."
He said the public open house is tentatively scheduled for June 28 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
Janyk said there will still be people opposed to having any development along the waterfront and the public meeting is their chance to speak.
"Ultimately, individuals who have a keen interest in Gospel Rock and the waterfront areas around the rock are probably going to speak with their hearts," he said.
If all goes well, this will conclude the work of the refinement working committee, Janyk said.
"At this point in time, this is as best as this refinement committee can do," Janyk said. "Now it's up to the community to speak and I hope a lot of people come out and tell us and look at the information that's going to be on the website."
