Speakers express viewpoints about proposed 215-unit housing project at Beach Gardens

Beach Gardens Resort and Marina’s planned 215-unit housing development was a topic of concern at City of Powell River’s June 3 committee of the whole meeting.

The zoning amendment for the property was up for discussion during the committee meeting, where there was a recommendation that staff be directed to invite the applicant’s consultant, CTS Traffic Engineering Specialists, who prepared the traffic impact assessment in support of the proposed zoning and land use designation amendment application, to present the findings at a future meeting of city council.

First up to speak during the committee’s public input period was Kathryn Hjorleifson, who said that as a taxpayer, she is subsidizing the application process. She said the $2,500 fee has long since been spent, so she believes it is reasonable to want information on who owns Seaboard Hotels Ltd, the applicant.

“If my quiet, peaceful, daily life is to be seriously uprooted and forever changed, I would like to at least know for whom,” said Hjorleifson. “Seaboard has owned this RM3-zoned land for decades. What is driving Seaboard to want, not need, this rezoning?

“If the zoning is approved, the ink won’t be dry on the paper when Seaboard’s land value increases by millions. The city needs to be sure we get what we need if this happens.”

Next up was Bruce Kipling, a Westminster Street resident. He said there is a non-compatibility with the sustainable official community plan. He said the reduction in the C4 tourist zoning for the hotel reduces the future development potential of the hotel and discourages any future potential to promote and encourage new investment in the business on the site.

“The city should be promoting and encouraging long-term economic activity, not reducing it,” said Kipling. “The proposed development is not compatible with the identity of the immediate neighbourhood. Due to the high density of the development, the pattern of urban development is not compatible with the servicing infrastructure of the city.”

Kipling said traffic was a concern. He said an estimated 300 to 660 vehicles, and an estimated 215 to 600 residents within the proposed development, would have a profound impact within the community, resulting in noise, congestion, traffic and pollution. Parking would have a spillover effect onto neighbourhood streets, he added.

“This is important for most of the neighbourhood,” said Kipling. “The rerouting of the roads would cause significant traffic and noise to the surrounding neighbourhood. Additionally, the high volume of traffic onto neighbourhood streets would pose a risk to people, children and pets.”

Kipling said an amendment to the official community plan should be deferred until the city receives additional information from the applicant, such as environmental studies, city utility impact studies and archaeological studies.

“Most of the residents are not opposed to development, it’s the scale and magnitude of this development,” said Kipling.

Debbie Thistlethwaite was next. She said she lived in the vicinity of the proposed development at the Beach Gardens Resort. She said there is going to be a loss of ocean views from existing properties across the highway from the Beach Gardens. She said if the applicant applies for a height variance, that would be concerning.

“We are going to lose our views and it is going to have major repercussions on our property values and any future resale,” said Thistlethwaite. “The highway is not police-regulated for speeding. There has been a child pedestrian fatality at the corner of Joyce Avenue and the highway. There have been accidents there. I don’t believe the traffic study has been properly done.”

The final speaker was Bob Allen, who lives two doors down from the Beach Gardens on Westminster Street. He said a petition indicates that Westminster residents don’t want the corner of Westminster and Cariboo opened up.

“As you make decisions that affect this property, have them make a comprehensive traffic plan that takes the traffic out of the Beach Gardens, out of the lower development properties, and maybe join it onto the top at Cariboo Avenue,” said Allen.

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