City of Powell River councillors voted unanimously to not endorse an application for a development variance permit for a housing expansion at 5499 Manson Avenue.
At the July 21 city council meeting, councillor Rob Southcott said it was clear that the city’s planning department had given the applicant as much latitude and many options to comply and not consider the housing development a duplex, “which it pretty much looks like.”
Southcott said the expansion was to be a secondary suite, but did not appear to comply.
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman said she went through the zoning bylaw definition and BC Building Code definitions, and at the end of the day, the residence is a duplex.
“When people are building something, they have to follow the rules and regulations,” said Leishman.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said the planning department bent over backwards to come to a reasonable resolution and it didn’t work.
A staff report indicated that staff was not supportive of the variance application.
