A City of Powell River select committee is sending a final report to council, with a recommendation to include its suggestions in the official community plan (OCP), currently under review. The committee has also recommended that council dissolve the committee.
The Westview waterfront development committee has been meeting since 2007. Its mandate was to provide recommendations on conceptual designs for a number of projects and areas, some of which have been completed.
In its final report, the committee endorsed conceptual designs for each of the areas in its terms of reference: seawalk from the former barge facility to the bottom of Oliver Street; former barge facility property and water lot; south harbour; Wharf at Westview; north harbour; Westview wastewater treatment plant property; Willingdon South, known as the old arena site; vacant lot on the southeast corner of Marine Avenue and Alberni Street; lower Millennium Park property; and property across from Willingdon Beach park.
Upgrades to the seawalk, south and north harbours and Wharf at Westview are complete.
The committee has reviewed and endorsed preliminary concepts for development of the vacant lot on Marine and Alberni, which includes establishing a town clock on the site, and the former barge facility property, which includes park use with a complementary marine economic component. It also supports the removal of the deteriorated industrial warehouse.
Additionally, the committee made recommendations to establish lower Millennium Park as a passive natural park and endorsed a proposal for the property immediately across Highway 101 from Willingdon Beach for preservation of its central function as a passive natural park, the cleanup of the former incinerator site and the possible development of the southern end of the site.
As well, the committee recommended that the old arena site be designated for multipurpose use, including civic, commercial and residential, in the OCP.
Councillor Chris McNaughton, committee chair, said the committee had previously recommended to council that the property be rezoned for mixed use and suggested that the OCP also be amended. “Council considered that, there was public input and it was council’s decision not to go forward with the proposed amendments,” he said. “The committee, however, still believes that mixed-use development on that site is important for downtown revitalization, stimulating some economic activity and growth within our community and creating, albeit a small, but important tax revenue stream for the city.”
After council defeated bylaw amendments that would have changed the OCP designation and zoning of the property, it selected the site as the preferred location for a new library.
The community and council still have input into what is finally decided for the site, McNaughton said. “The committee recognizes that this is simply a recommendation to council,” he said. “Given their collective experience, they’re still recommending that council give consideration to mixed-used development over the long run.”
McNaughton said he expects the final report will be ready to present to council at its June 6 meeting.
