A public information meeting on the two 12-story towers and Rockwood Annex rebuild Doug Spani proposes to build in downtown Sechelt met with little opposition March 14.
About 50 people came to the aged Rockwood Annex to hear Spani's plan to demolish the current annex building and construct a new three-level building complete with site landscaping and new parking spaces in exchange for building a condominium project that includes two 12 story towers between Chatelech Secondary School and the Rockwood.
Some concerns were raised over fire protection in the towers, increased traffic in the area and the possibility of this development setting a precedent in the district.
District of Sechelt planner Ray Parfitt opened the meeting saying the annex building needed to be replaced and three options were on the table.
"The capital cost for this project is $2.9 million which would cause a hefty increase in property taxes at the District of Sechelt, so we looked into options to fund the development," said Parfitt. "One is that the district build it and the capital cost goes to the taxpayersthe other is a leaseback from a private sale which is similar in cost to option one. A third option was brought forward by Doug Spani to build it and convey it to the District of Sechelt."
The district is the current owner of the Rockwood and annex building which is used for community events like the Festival of the Written Arts, which sees hundreds of visitors from around the world each year.
However, the annex building is now full of mould and falling apart.
"I'm one of the biggest user groups of the Rockwood and I'm not using it anymore because of the mould. There are too many people with allergies," said one woman in the crowd.
Spani is offering to build a new annex building, provide an additional 50 parking spaces and make improvements to the Rockwood pathway by spring 2006 if he has an agreement in principle with the district prior to June, 2005 to build his residential development behind the Rockwood. His stipulations also include the district give him a credit toward the park development cost charges and increase the allowable density for the residential development to 216 units instead of the current 148 units allowed in the zoning regulations.
He would cover the costs of building the annex and then give the building to the district, which would continue to operate it as a community facility.
Spani owns two lots between Chat and Rockwood. One is .789 hectares and is currently zoned R1. The other is 1.648 hectares and is currently zoned R4. He would need to be granted R4A zoning on both properties to proceed with the development.
Spani is proposing 216 residential units (one unit per 112 sq. meters), 247 underground parking spaces and 30 above ground parking spaces at the condominium site.
During the information meeting concerns were raised over the development "setting a precedent for height," in the district.
The height of the towers also raised concerns over fire protection.
Sechelt fire chief Bill Higgs was in attendance at the meeting and confirmed that the volunteer fire department does not have the training or equipment to fight a high-rise fire at this time.
"Highrise firefighting is a real different beast for us to deal with. We have some serious concerns about this," said Higgs, noting the department is currently discussing how they would tackle a fire in a building over four stories high.
He said his firefighters would have to undergo additional training to learn how to fight a fire in a high-rise and different firefighting apparatus would need to be purchased.
One man who lives in the area also raised concerns over increased traffic along the road to the high school.
"I counted 286 one-way trips in the morning and in between it can get pretty busy too," he said. "Then you add, say, 175 vehicles from this development and we have 42 units, which could have a total of 80 cars there too. That's a lot of extra traffic on this road."
Spani said the traffic issue would have to be addressed if the proposal was to go forward.
"We would be required to have traffic engineers do studies," Spani said.
Some in the audience called Spani's plan "refreshing and unique."
"I think the idea of the trade off of having this annex built with private funds saving the District of Sechelt taxpayers $3 million is great," said another man at the meeting. "I like the idea of the use of that property not being taken up by maybe three or four residential homes versus the idea of having a number of people enjoy that particular siteI hope the District of Sechelt will go ahead with encouraging you to use that piece of property."
Sechelt mayor Cam Reid ended the information meeting by saying, "this is a unique opportunity for Sechelt to consider."
"At this point it's just an idea, not a formal proposal with the District of Sechelt. Mr. Spani could leave and subdivide the lots or he may decide there is community support and interest. If that's the case we will go into more detailed drawings and negotiations and there will be a public hearing. I invite you to put pen to paper and give us your feedback," said Reid.
Residents with comments on the proposal are asked to write them down and drop them off at the District of Sechelt this week.
Staff will then compile a report of the comments gathered and present it to council and Spani when the decision will be made whether or not to bring a formal proposal to the district.
