Councillors on Sechelt’s planning committee have endorsed BC Housing’s plan for a supportive housing development at 5656 Hightide Ave., in the same area as the Upper Deck shelter.
BC Housing already owns the land but needs an official community plan and zoning amendment to go ahead with a three-storey, 40-unit, building.
The only point of debate for the committee members was around the closure of part of the right-of-way for the south end of Hightide. The road closure will allow for a larger setback between the building and neighbouring properties.
According to a report from the district’s planning staff, the surrounding properties are a mix of townhouse, apartment and duplex buildings as well as single-family homes and other types of multi-family buildings.
Coun. Mike Shanks expressed some concern about closing the road dedication. “I think we might need that road sometime in the future,” he said.
Committee chair Noel Muller noted that with the shelter, food bank and Community Services Society already established in the area, the neighbourhood is becoming a “community services hub.” Muller also praised the project. “I think this is a massive leap forward in terms of the general support network we have in Sechelt – I’ll be supporting this. I think what we’ve heard from the community in terms of negative response is in line with what one might expect and I think this is going to be a fantastic facility for those in need.”
Coun. Darnelda Siegers said she was impressed with the way BC Housing has handled community engagement, compared with an earlier proposal for a shelter on Ebbtide Avenue.
“They’ve come a long way in their public consultation and public engagement and it shows in how the public reacted at the meeting they held at the Legion [April 3] and the vast support that came out from that,” she said.
BC Housing has said it plans to have RainCity Housing, which operates the shelter, run the supportive housing project as well. The building will be staffed 24/7 and the tenants will have meal service and access to counselling and other support.
As well as recommendations on zoning and the official community plan, the committee is recommending council make a housing agreement a requirement or final approval. BC Housing’s model calls for rents geared to income, with a cap of 30 per cent of a tenant’s income.
The committee also wants to see four of the ground floor units built to be adaptable, in addition to the four that BC Housing is already planning to make fully accessible.
The application was scheduled to go to council for first reading at the May 2 regular meeting, with a public hearing to be set if council votes in favour.
