Ocean Stories
The seniors’ living complex Ocean Stories is headed to public hearing on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Sechelt municipal hall.
The project will need an Official Community Plan bylaw amendment and a zoning bylaw amendment to move forward.
The project, pitched by developer Doug Spani, entails building a 217-unit development on a 2.4-hectare piece of property between the Rockwood Centre and Shorncliffe.
The plan calls for a 60-unit independent living condominium complemented by three adjacent buildings offering varying levels of independent and supported living, as well as a library, theatre, pickleball courts, exercise room, hobby room, coffee shop, shared gardens, walking trails and sitting areas.
Seniors funding
Representatives of the Seniors Planning Table were at the Feb. 17 regular meeting of Sechelt council asking for $17,256 from the municipality annually for three years to help fund the group going forward.
The planning table is tasked with enhancing communication and interagency collaboration and highlighting safety issues for vulnerable older adults.
Representative Anne Titcomb said the planning table will also ask for annual funding from the Town of Gibsons and the regional district to pull together a total budget of $60,000 a year for three years.
She said the funding would help “keep this worthwhile community-driven planning for seniors alive.”
Sue Jackal, of the planning table, noted the shared funding model would enable the hiring of a full-time coordinator.
“It doesn’t commit you to forever. It enables the group then to find its feet and find a structure that’s going to be able to continue on after that three years,” Jackal said.
Mayor Bruce Milne said the request would be referred to budget discussions.
Phare Lake
Coun. Alice Lutes, Sechelt’s director at the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), said the SCRD is currently checking with the family of John Phare to gauge their appetite for renaming Wormy Lake in honour of the fallen hero.
Phare died while fighting the old Sechelt mine fire in July last year.
Art acquisition
An art piece made to honour Phare, Gord Halloran’s Regeneration, has been purchased by the District of Sechelt for $13,692.
The work features two tall stumps charred from the old Sechelt mine fire, now on display in Spirit Square beside the Visitor Information Centre.
While directors argued about where the new purchase should be displayed long term – some wanted to see it moved from Spirit Square, which is meant to be a community gathering place – all seemed pleased with the acquisition.
The cost for the art piece was covered by the district’s art acquisition fund, which Coun. Darren Inkster noted was completely emptied for the purchase.
