Councillors in Gibsons could be in for a long night Thursday as a contentious supportive housing proposal goes to public hearing.
BC Housing has applied for zoning and Official Community Plan amendments to allow a 40-unit modular building at the site of the old RCMP detachment at 749 School Rd.
The property was offered to the Town by the federal government for one dollar under a program to dispose of Crown land for projects to address homelessness. If the project is approved the Town would lease the land to BC Housing, which would provide the $14 million needed to build the facility and operating funds necessary to have RainCity Housing manage it under contract.
The project has been controversial and is expected to face vocal opposition at the hearing.
Letters received by the Town as of Oct. 11 for inclusion as part of the public hearing are split between supporters and opponents, and include letters from some neighbourhood residents who recently formed a group called Gibsons Residents and Taxpayers Association.
In recent ads in Coast Reporter, the association has been urging people to go the public hearing to “Let our council know that we won’t be pushed into an inadequate plan.”
A letter submitted by one of the group’s organizers says, “The size and coverage of the lot for this proposed project will not only change the entire character of the neighborhood but the proposed use is not compatible with the current quiet residential environment that currently exists. There is little local support for this type of facility in this location from all the adjacent property owners.”
Other letters objecting to the project call for a different location to be considered.
Letters from supporters of the project include one that claims, “Much fear, loathing and misinformation seems to be breeding much ill will.”
After a presentation from former Gibsons councillor Silas White, who continues to work on homelessness issues as a volunteer with the Sunshine Coast Homelessness Advisory Committee, the Sunshine Coast Regional District board agreed on Oct. 10 to write a letter of support.
The public hearing will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Gibsons Legion, directly across School Road from the old RCMP building.
