City of Powell River Council has approved a development permit for an expansion of the Canadian Coast Guard Powell River search and rescue station by the south harbour.
At the June 19 council meeting, director of planning services Jason Gow said the proposed development includes a new workshop building, a disaster response shed and a storage shed. He said before the applicant can apply for a building permit, they must first secure a development permit.
“Construction includes a 53-square-metre, single-storey workshop building, and the placement of two new sheds within the search and rescue station expanded lease area,” said Gow. “The workshop building will have a wooden frame and exterior finishes matching the existing search and rescue station. The two new sheds will be made from repurposed shipping containers.”
Gow said the larger of the two sheds will be used as a disaster response shed while the smaller shed will be used for storage. He said the existing coast guard station and workshop will be enclosed by a chain-link fence, which will be treated with images printed on vertical slats with Indigenous motifs designed by a Tla’amin Nation artist.
The new workshop building will have a height, size and shape in keeping with the adjacent development, which is the existing search and rescue station, said Gow.
“Under the zoning bylaw, the expanded lease area now requires four parking spaces,” said Gow. “The applicant is proposing to maintain the existing three spaces designated at the time the existing search and rescue station was constructed, but the applicant is also proposing to install a secure bike rack within the search and rescue station compound.
“As for the guidelines, council may consider reduction of the parking requirements based on assessment of need and the character of the area. Staff is supportive of this reduced parking requirement by one stall and maintaining the existing parking for the facility.”
Gow said staff members are supportive of the application as presented and recommend council approve for issuance the development permit to facilitate expansion of the search and rescue station.
Councillor Rob Southcott asked if the access to the area to the southwest of the coast guard’s leased area would still be accessible to the public.
“I believe there is significant public interest in the future potential for that area in terms of amenities serving the public,” added Southcott.
Gow said the area would still be accessible. Council voted unanimously to support the development permit.
Last year, Meta censored Canadian news from its feeds, so we built our own social platform: syrupsocial.com – a newsfeed powered by Canadian journalists. Join the Peak on Syrup for the latest news from the Sunshine Coast and beyond, and add the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
