City of Powell River Council has given first two readings to an amendment to its Sustainable Official Community Plan bylaw to allow for construction of an affordable housing project on Ontario Avenue. The matter will now proceed to public hearing on Thursday, August 15.
At the council meeting on Thursday, July 18, councillors considered the bylaw amendment, which would see the property for the housing project rezoned from urban residential low density to urban residential medium density. The property is designated for a project by inclusion Powell River (iPR) and BC Housing that will see the construction of a 40-unit complex, with one-, two- and three-bedroom units, if approved by city council.
Councillor Rob Southcott said this is the official community plan bylaw change for land use of the piece of property on which iPR wants to put greater density affordable housing.
“This is for the Sustainable Official Community Plan change required to permit the proposed development,” said Southcott. “It’s not a really big change and it’s consistent with the land use plan for neighbouring areas, particularly to the north, which is slightly denser than the housing to the south, which is all R2 residential. I’m excited about this project.”
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman said it is a good news story because iPR applied for a grant for affordable housing two and a half years ago and was successful in obtaining it. She said BC Housing is set to build this apartment complex.
“The city had this Ontario Avenue parcel and inclusion had this other parcel on Duncan Street they were looking at initially,” said Leishman. “The city decided through the planning department that the Ontario Avenue parcel made more sense for that development. There was a land trade, so the city now has the Duncan parcel and inclusion and BC Housing will now have the Ontario parcel, and they will build the building there if all of this goes through.”
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she wanted to make it clear that although it’s iPR and BC Housing leading this project, this development is not just for iPR clients.
“These are for anyone who requires affordable housing,” said Hathaway. “It’s a much-needed addition to our affordable housing stock. I’m hugely in favour of this development and I’m glad to see it finally proceeding.”
