The Gibsons planning committee got a look at a proposed development for the Lower Gibsons waterfront this week.
Target Developments and Robert Ciccozzi Architecture appeared at the planning committee on Tuesday, presenting their project plan for the 2.5-acre site that sits along the Lower Gibsons waterfront beside the Yacht Club and marina. Their last scheduled planning committee meeting was cancelled because there was not a full quorum of committee members in attendance, although they did have an informal discussion with the committee.
Since that time, the developer and architect held a public open house to introduce the idea to the community. The purpose of Tuesday's presentation was to get some final feedback from the planning committee before proceeding with the re-zoning application and development permit. A few changes have been made to the original plan including: extending the edge of the building to create more of a stepped roofline and less massing, a reduced number of town houses, from eight to six and they have aligned the coffee shop to view the marina and pier. "We took some time and walked around Gibsons and took photographs and images of the local character. Our intention is to incorporate some of this character into our development," Ciccozzi said. "Quite frankly, I think this is the closest we've come to a development on that water, but it doesn't look like Gibsons. Most people will say it doesn't look like a seaside village, there's nothing there at all that reminds them of what Gibsons is," said Coun. Chris Koopmans. Concerns of noise in the public access areas were brought up, as well as, comments on the commercial zoning looking a little too industrial. "We will try and introduce more colour and a little more fishing village, if you will, and art, art community/fishing village -it's hard really to summarize the community in one word," explained Grant Gillies of Target Developments. The committee also asked if the owners of the marina and the yacht club had been contacted with regards to the proposed development. Gillies replied that they hadn't. The committee agreed that it would be in developers best interest to contact these neighbouring business, as well as the Gibsons Landing Business Association and Chamber of Commerce and to hold another public open house before submitting an application for permit and re-zoning. "I don't think there is anyone in this room that would not agree that this is probably one of the most important developments in Gibsons for quite some time and it's worth while spending a considerable amount of time on it," said Coun. Bob Curry.
