Development on Gospel Rock Block 7 is a foregone conclusion, Mayor Wayne Rowe indicated at a committee-of-the-whole meeting on Gibsons Town Council July 18.
The mayor made his position clear after Edward Porter, senior urban designer with the proponent’s planning firm MODUS, made a presentation about the zoning amendment application for the block, where the Ji family plans to build 360 homes. The application is available online, starting on page 30.
The application includes a boutique commercial inn, artist live/work units, a neighbourhood cafe and brewpub, a small store for daily needs, and a potential wedding pavilion.
Councillor Jeremy Valeriote inquired about possible dangers to pedestrians on Gower Point Road, a fairly busy thoroughfare between the upper and lower part of Block 7. Porter replied that traffic calming concepts for Gower Point Road could be considered.
Mayor Rowe called the development plan “a good effort to stay within the Neighbourhood Plan.” The initial servicing costs are substantial, he said, so a project on this scale would only be possible for a developer taking the long view who is willing to invest in the community.
The title document in the zoning amendment application shows that Greenlane Homes Ltd. bought Block 7 with a mortgage from the previous owner. Company 1085102 BC Ltd is the former name of Greenlane Homes. The sole director of 1017178 BC Ltd is Antonietta Laudisio. The amount of the mortgage is unknown.
After Porter’s presentation, community member Susan Rule indicated that she had a question, but Rowe said it would have to wait until the period for inquiries at the end of the meeting. In the interim, Porter left and the meeting continued on other subjects. After 90 minutes, when only two members of the public were left, Rule was given the opportunity to ask her question, which was not recorded in the minutes under council procedure.
Rule lives on Pratt and is concerned about increased traffic due to the development. She notified the SCRD of dangerous conditions for pedestrians seven years ago, noting that it could take her school-age daughter as long as 10 minutes to cross the road.
“Pratt Road is not in Gibsons, Area E receives no taxes from this development, there is no benefit to us,” she said. “Another road has to be put in before this development can happen. We are at our breaking point already. This just causes division in the community.”
Mayor Rowe said that a traffic study will be conducted and that there will be consultation with the Ministry of Transportation.
Staff will develop a zoning bylaw amendment in support of the proposal.
On April 26, some 70 people attended a public information meeting about the project. Of the 24 people who filled out a feedback form, 14 were positive, seven were negative and three were neutral. The written submissions can be viewed here, starting at page 69.
This is wrong on so many levels. Half of Block 7 will become an urban environment. How come the town’s affordable housing policy does not include pricing restrictions? I expect a 2-bedroom apartment with a view in this location will rent for at least $2,200 per month. How affordable is that? And at least 500 people will be trapped in case of a wildfire: Chaster and an extension of Rosamund through Block 6 will be very close together. Does the owner have the funds for this development? Why could questions not be asked at the end of the presentation? What will be done about the vastly increased traffic on Pratt if this plan proceeds?
i think you estimate the rents a little low.I fully expect that a 2 bed apt.will be upwards of 3200.00.
its a travesty.the are not buliding a community they are tearing one apart.
One condition of this development must be building dedicated bike/pedestrian traffic lanes throughout the development AND all the way along Shaw, Pratt, Chaster and Gower Point Road. Gibsons is growing and it will not be stopped, but like Whistler, we must develop wisely. BUILD DEDICATED BIKE LANES BESIDE THE MAIN ROADS. This will remove vehicle pressure from these major arteries while promoting (healthy) access to the city centres. Don’t be like Langley, Surrey, Delta etc. who’s urban sprawl has destroyed the communities. Gibson’s is small and 3-4 KM’s of dedicated bike lanes is peanuts to be paid by the megalith developers. Negotiate with the developers on this; make it part of the green space/public realm requirements. Be like Whistler and we will BE LIKE WHISTLER!