Zoning bylaw amendments for Phase 3 of the Parkland subdivision off Payne Road in Gibsons have passed third reading after a second public hearing.
The first hearing drew an unexpectedly large crowd, and most of the people who offered an opinion were opposed to the Phase 3 plan. The main concerns were density, green space, and plans to relocate a storm water pond.
Town staff and Reed Road Developments reworked the plan and made changes. The original proposal called for rezoning two properties at the southeast corner of the subdivision, from single-family residential and two-family residential zone (R-3) to small lot cottage residential (RC) and parks, recreation and open space zone (PRO).
The changes introduced at the Sept. 6 council meeting included: taking a parcel that was going to remain R-3 and adding it to the area being rezoned RC, and removing an area that would have required a road closure. As well, the Town and the developer negotiated a covenant that would cap the number of new residential lots at 26.
About a dozen people came out for the second hearing on Oct. 4, but only three spoke.
David Hayward, who lives on Gerussi Lane in one of the earlier phases of Parkland, raised many of the same concerns voiced at the first hearing. He also claimed there was nothing in the plans for the earlier phases or the Town’s own storm water management plan that suggested the storm water pond was temporary. “Nowhere in here does it say anything about the pond being temporary. They call it a ‘young pond,’ but they don’t say it’s a temporary pond.”
Another Parkland resident, Daryl Austman of Wright Road, raised questions about the pond as well as a group of three homes on one corner where he doesn’t think driveways can be properly included.
Nicole Hagedorn of Reed Road Developments spoke last. She said the family-owned company has been working on Parkland since 1998. “These years of work involved community focus groups, consultants, planning committees – 18 years, millions of dollars, and thousands of hours have been invested to this point,” she told councillors.
“Together with Town staff we worked to create a project we could be proud of – a project that fits the ideal of modern green living and smart growth principles. These homes are the most family-friendly and affordable new homes in the Town of Gibsons.”
Third reading was debated at the regular council meeting later that evening, where Coun. Silas White described Parkland as a “very important development, historically, for Gibsons,” and also noted that some of the issues raised by residents, such as storm water management, fall outside the scope of the rezoning.
The zoning bylaw still needs to pass a final vote. The Town is also waiting for approval from the Inspector of Municipalities in Victoria to take out a $125,000 loan to finance an expansion of the geo-thermal field for the Geo-exchange District Energy Utility (GDEU) that serves Parkland.
The GDEU was created in 2009, and funded through gas tax revenue and other grants as well as a $168,500 initial investment from the Town. The project has yet to break even, but Town officials say with more housing coming online they’re confident it will start to cover its costs in the near future.
