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Gospel Rock, a promontory to the south of the Town is a special area that is close to the community’s heart. Without a thoughtful plan, “businessas-usual” will over-time result in a conventional pattern of development that will leave much of the Gospel Rock area unprotected and unavailable for community use and enjoyment. Instead, the Town has developed an innovative plan for a diverse, dense, and welldesigned neighbourhood.
OVERVIEW
The future use and development
of the Gospel Rock area has been
a subject of discussion in the
community for many years. The
Town’s Smart Plan envisions creating
a neighbourhood land use plan to
guide the residential development of
the Gospel Rock. In 2009, Council
appointed a Committee to come up
with a neighbourhood plan for the
Gospel Rock area that built on the
previous efforts while addressing
their shortcomings. Over a 20 month
period, this Committee held monthly
open meetings, met with the area’s
property owners and members of
the previous Select Committee,
and conducted a public meeting
in June 2010. The Committee’s
work resulted in a report with a
recommended land use pattern
which was then presented to Council
in December 2010.
The future use and development of the Gospel Rock area has been a subject of discussion in the community for many years. In November 2005, a team of consultants led by Holland Barrs Planning Group was engaged by the Town of Gibsons to develop a neighbourhood plan for the Gospel Rock Area. Gospel Rock is 124 acres of privately owned land, in 11 different legal parcels. The land is currently zoned R3 (single detached and duplex residential) and R4 (large lot single detached residential) View zoning information here. The area is highly valued by the community, and some of the area has been used informally by the community for trails, open space, nature appreciation and access to great views.The Town’s Smart Plan envisions creating a neighbourhood land use plan to guide the residential development of the Gospel Rock. In 2009, Council appointed a Committee to come up with a neighbourhood plan for the Gospel Rock area that built on the previous efforts while addressing their shortcomings. Over a 20 month period, this Committee held monthly open meetings, met with the area’s property owners and members of the previous Select Committee, and conducted a public meeting in June 2010. The Committee’s work resulted in a report with a recommended land use pattern which was then presented to Council in December 2010.
KEY FEATURES OF THE PLAN
Diversity
A household sizes and needs change along with the demographics of the community, a diverse range of housing types, sizes and prices is essential. The plan provides for a range of larger single family lots along the south and west perimeters, smaller single family lots in the interior, and cluster housing and townhouses throughout: this will be a truly mixed community.
Density
Concentrating development at higher densities leaves more land that can be preserved as open spaces to respect and project environmentally sensitive features. In the neighbourhood plan, fully 47% of the Gospel Rock area will be preserved as parks and open space. At the proposed density (net 11.3 units per acre) alternative transportation becomes more viable and walking more desirable. A small commercial and community gather spot at the centre of the community will become an active hub.
Design
By designing with nature, the plan hopes to ensure that the environment is respected and protected. Design features include:
• an extensive open space, park, and trail network that includes Charman Creek
• leadership in sustainable servicing standards (reduced road widths, rain
gardens, etc.);
• leading-edge sustainable energy sources including geo-exchange district energy;
• not less than 70% of the waterfront land that would be secured in public
ownership with an opportunity to increase that amount to 100%;
• Designation of two north-south wildlife corridors (one using Shaw Road);
• Protection of the dry land forest and steep slopes on the east side of the area;
• Designation of viewpoint parks in Little Africa and at Gospel Rock;
• Buffers along the Agricultural Land Reserve boundary.
GOSPEL ROCK PUBLIC PROCESS
A public information session and discussion of the Draft Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan will be held on Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Elphinstone Secondary Gym. Please make a note on your calendar to attend this meeting - your input is valuable to Council.
Council regularly debates matters pertaining to Gospel Rock at regular Council and Committee-of-the-Whole meetings. Visit the Committee-of-the-Whole site for upcoming meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Contact Information
Municipal Planner
Michael Epp
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Location and Mailing Address
474 South Fletcher Road
Box 340
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0
Business Hours
8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).
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