Sechelt and other Sunshine Coast residents voiced near-unanimous support for the proposed Pacific Spirit site development plan on the Sechelt waterfront at a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 23 at the Seaside Centre.
"It's time for Sechelt to step forward and show the business world that we're open for business," said Chris Moore, speaking on behalf of the executive of the Coast Community Builders Association and capturing the tone of the majority of the evening's two dozen speakers. "It's imperative that we do it now. It's going to be more competitive across the board in all areas of the province, and Sechelt needs to tell the general public we're open for business. So you have our full support."
On Oct. 6, council passed first reading of bylaws to re-zone the property and amend the official community plan to allow for the proposed project. Currently, there is an approved plan in place for the Pacific Spirit site.
The new take on the project, which passed first reading and which was being contemplated at the public hearing, makes several changes from the approved plan. It increases the project's density to 107 units from 96 by reducing unit size for affordability, increases the two buildings' height negligibly to accommodate six storeys at the structures' maximum height on Teredo Avenue as opposed to the approved project's five storeys, and reduces commercial space by approximately half.
More than 50 residents attended the hearing. As speaker after speaker came to the microphone to voice their views on the project, council heard strong support coming from both residents and key players in the Sunshine Coast's business community.
"We have a little higher than average unemployment on the Coast than in other communities in B.C.," said Shelley McDade, chief executive officer for the Sunshine Coast Credit Union and chair of the economic development agency Best Coast Initiatives. "This will bring employment. This will bring more people to the downtown core who will hopefully shop and use the retail businesses."
Dale Schweighardt, who operates several Sechelt businesses including the Lighthouse Pub and is a director of Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce, noted the chamber's support. "I support this project; everyone should," he said.
Only three speakers voiced opposition to the project, citing concerns with its size and height, and one voicing concern with council's process.
Council is expected to consider second and third readings to the bylaws at a council meeting in early December.
