For the Love of Gospel Rock Society is hoping for a big turnout at an April 26 public meeting being sponsored by the new owner of Block 7.
Greenlane Homes, a company formed by Lower Mainland resident Ji Yongqiang, plans to develop the property along the lines spelled out in the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan (GRNP).
The company has hired Modus, a consulting firm that includes Rob Barrs who worked with the Town on the early versions of the GRNP, and Modus representatives have been meeting with community groups including For the Love of Gospel Rock, TRaC (Transportation Choices-Sunshine Coast), the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society, and the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association.
Greenlane calls its early concept “amenity heavy” and, in a release announcing the public meeting, said it “secures public access and key natural open spaces for recreation and conservation. In addition to the proposed expansion of park surrounding Cross Rock and Little Africa, the concept also proposes a new ‘green lane’ as a linear park intended to preserve and enhance the existing public trail access.”
Ji, who has not attended the meetings with community groups in person, said in the release, “We’re hearing the community reiterate the vision and goals of the Gospel Rock [Neighbourhood] Plan. At the same time, we think we can develop a site plan that is much more sensitive to the unique features of this place. We are pleased with the overall direction of early planning and look forward to further discussions and refinements to the concept.”
For the Love of Gospel Rock’s Sharon Danroth has been involved in the meetings, and she said Greenlane appears to be more serious about moving forward than other potential developers of Gospel Rock in the past.
Danroth also said the society is “happy to be included in the discussion, but they’re not paying any attention to what we’re saying [about preserving the entire property as a park].” She said that remains the society’s goal, and they’ll continue working towards that and trying to convince Greenlane to sell.
Danroth said despite reservations about what’s on the table right now, the society recognizes that Greenlane is making an effort to try to stake out a middle ground that would see key areas important to the community preserved. “They’re looking at leaving the waterfront, leaving the dry-land forest, pushing what was in the original plan back further [from Cross Rock],” she said.
Greenlane said it plans to take what it hears on April 26 into account in drafting its formal rezoning application to the Town of Gibsons.
“We encourage anybody who cares about the place to come to that meeting and voice their opinion,” Danroth said.
The meeting will be held at the Gibsons Public Market, 473 Gower Point Rd., from 5 to 8 p.m.
