Bowen’s housing shortage was on the table during Monday’s council meeting, including rezoning to up the number of float houses permitted in the USSC Marina.
“This zoning is all about our staff. We need staff to retain quality service at Doc Morgan’s and the Union Steamship Marina,” said Rondy Dike of the marina, addressing council.
“They need housing on Bowen, particularly the busy summer months.”
The rezoning process to increase the permitted float houses to six began over a year ago, he said.
Staff housing impacts business, he said.
“We’ve had to delay opening of Doc’s deck and the dining room because we didn’t have anyone to run it,” he said.
Dike also updated council on the design for the first floating home, currently under construction.
The project’s naval engineer said the float home is still only on the “cusp of stability,” he said, but it’s been designed so they can add ballasts for flotation, if needed.
And testing is ongoing.
The initial design for the future float homes has also changed, he said.
“We’re now working on a new design that the rest of the house boats will be on with a much lower centre of gravity,” Dike said, with a loft above, and no bathroom on the upper level.
“It will be more a tiny house concept as opposed to really a float house.”
In addition to Dike’s comments in-person to council, there were several letters of support for the proposal from islanders.
“Affordable Housing is a critical issue for Bowen Island and we need solutions immediately. Both the Official Community Plan and the Island Plan 2018 support a diverse and resilient community,” said Carol Petersen, in her letter to council. “To achieve this we need diverse and affordable housing options now. “
And H.C. Behm wrote: “The footprint of these six units is environmentally acceptable when all building and health regulations are followed. Furthermore, these units would establish a vital step in the search for minimal housing for seasonal workers at affordable prices.”
On discussion, council voted to “direct the applicant to hold a public open house to receive public input with regard to these bylaws prior to consideration of second reading.”
The marina is currently zoned to allow for three floating houses — one of these is the Union Steamship office at the entrance counts as the third.
