A development variance permit for the future BIRCH apartment complex was approved by council on Monday night.
Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH) presented their application earlier this month outlining their requests for exceptions to both the typical height and parking lot rules. Executive director Robyn Fenton explained how the original three-storey proposal was no longer economically viable, and that more than 24 units were necessary.
The extra height would allow for a fourth storey, bringing the unit total to 30-32. The group says this will also make the project more appealing to BC Housing when they apply for funding later this year. A 2021 funding application was passed over by the provincial body.
Some concern had been expressed by the Bowen Island Fire Department that access to this new fourth-storey would be about two metres taller than their equipment could reach. A compromise was reached that brings the highest distance from ground to entry point of the top floor units to 9.4 metres, which would allow access for the fire department in an emergency.
The parking variance involved reducing the number of spots from one per unit to 10 spaces total. Since other comparable Snug Cove developments have also been granted variances to reduce their parking spaces, BIRCH’s request was approved as well. Some of Lot 3 could also potentially be turned into parking spaces in the future.
