The District of Sechelt has set Tuesday, May 26 for a public hearing on the rezoning of the proposed Vanta Pacific Resort dock in West Porpoise Bay.
Currently zoned for non-commercial moorage, the developer’s plan is to increase the size of the water lot in front of the property from about 750 sq. metres to 4,079 sq. metres, acting director of development services Mike Vance told council on May 6.
“So it’s a significant increase, primarily because of the larger dock, which actually moves from 5 m by 6 m to 2.5 m by 20 m with an extension of 1.8 [m] by 12 [m]. So it’s ultimately a fivefold increase,” Vance said.
A second phase would add a 36.5 m by 3.6 m concrete float to the end of the dock, creating a T-shaped structure.
The second phase is currently cost-prohibitive, municipal planner Angela Letman said in her report to the planning and community development committee.
“Only when boat access to the hotel, restaurant and spa becomes very popular, and the phase 1 part of the dock becomes inadequate in size, will the phase 2 dock section be constructed,” Letman said.
The proposed C-3 zoning would limit the uses to temporary boat moorage for Vanta Pacific customers, permanent moorage of up to two boats for the resort, and kayak and paddleboard rentals to hotel guests.
No additional vehicle parking is proposed, no structures or buildings will be placed on the dock, and no seaplanes or fuelling station will be permitted.
“While the proposed dock is limited to resort customers, public waterfront access is available at the adjacent Poise Island Park, and the developer will be constructing a public beach access and some public parking at the end of Ripple Way,” Letman said.
Final adoption of the bylaw would be conditional on Vanta Pacific obtaining approval of the foreshore lease from the province and approval of its preliminary review application from shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation. The upland rezoning would also have to be completed and a water supply standpipe for fire protection would have to be installed prior to construction.
Mayor Bruce Milne noted at the May 6 meeting that the proposed rezoning was significant because it was the first major water lease application in Porpoise Bay in recent years.
“So that will go forward to public hearing and give the community the chance to think this one through, and also get the referrals out to the community associations and to other neighbouring property owners,” Milne said after council gave the rezoning bylaw first reading.
In a letter included with council correspondence, resident Mike Paddison expressed his dismay at the committee’s handling of the application in late April and stressed the proposal had not been referred to neighbouring residents or the district’s parks department for review, even though “the lease borders on a public park with a swimmable beach and is situated within 100 metres of residential properties.”
The public hearing will be held in Seaside Centre and starts at 7 p.m.
