A proposal to rezone up to 38 properties in the Arbutus Ridge development on the west side of Bowen to allow attached or detached (if a property is big enough) secondary suites was referred to committees at Bowen Island Municipality's regular council meeting Oct. 12.
The CD 18 zone that contains Arbutus Ridge was created in June 2014, according to the staff report.
The development was zoned after attached secondary suites were allowed in the municipality but not detached suites, according to manager of planning and development Daniel Martin.
There are a few areas on Bowen that don’t allow secondary suites, including in the Cove, , Artisan Square, middle area of Hood Point, the area around the golf course at Cowan Point, and the seniors’ precinct, but they are few and far between. “It is not clear from a review of the rezoning documents why this [secondary suites] accessory use was omitted,” said Martin’s staff report – a conspicuous unanswered question councillors reiterated they wanted to know the answer to.
The proposal is in line with the Official Community Plan, said Martin.
Martin included proposed conditions of the rezoning: proof of adequate water supply, sprinklers in the suites, adequate septic and storm water management.
Environmental considerations listed in the staff report include how increased density could affect water resources, west side infrastructure and public amenities.
Council unanimously referred the proposal to the Housing; Parks, Trails and Greenways; Environment and Climate Action Advisory Committees as well as the Advisory Planning Commission and the King Edward Bay Water System Local Advisory Committee.
