Sechelt council passed second reading of an amended rezoning for the Genaris Properties Ltd rental development at 5535 Shorncliffe Avenue at its July 19 council meeting.
The proposal is for 109 rental apartments in two buildings beside the Rockwood Lodge Park.
The zoning is proposed to change from R4 (urban infill) to RM1 (residential multiple one). The bylaw sets height limits of 20 metres and five storeys on the building to the west and 17.5 metres and four storeys for the building to the east. One unit, on the top floor of the building to the west, may be used for short term rental. At a June meeting, the proponent said the STR unit will be fully accessible and is to be used by a family member who is disabled. However, instead of it remaining empty when that family member isn’t using it, they hope to rent it out.
The Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment (which went to public hearing immediately before the July 19 meeting) has a density boost from a maximum of 100 units/hectare to 155 units/ hectare. The OCP density suggestions are low and “not conducive to financially viable development” a May staff report for the proposal’s first reading said. “A future OCP review will address the density consideration in the downtown area.”
The developer is offering a guarantee of 11 units to be rented at 30 per cent of median rental income for 15 years as a community amenity contribution. After 15 years, those units would become market rentals like the other 98 apartments.
Coun. Dianne McLauchlan voiced concerns that the community amenity contribution isn’t sufficient for the density upzoning. Other councillors weighed in that the proposal offers much-needed rental housing.
While the OCP amendment has gone through a public hearing, a staff oversight in including a provision for site-specific density and floor area ratio in the Zoning Bylaw meant that council had to pass a revised zoning bylaw amendment, which was done at the July 19 meeting. A second public hearing for the development is to be scheduled in September.
The OCP amendment bylaw will be considered for third reading at the Aug. 2 council meeting.
McLauchlan was the lone vote against the second reading motion. Coun. Darren Inkster, who also voted against second reading in June, was not at the meeting.
– With files from Keili Bartlett
