Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
An alternate development proposal by Métis Nation British Columbia for 1102-13th Street in Invermere may be the compromise that council and the community have been looking for.
At its July 9 meeting, council gave first and second reading to new amendment bylaws for the revised housing plan, which is heading to a second public hearing in September.
Council members discussed the alternate plan put forth by Métis Nation BC (MNBC) in partnership with the Columbia Valley Métis Association.
The groups previously proposed to build a four-storey multi-family housing development including 36 dwelling units, plus a 3,000 square foot (280 square metre) cultural community building on 13th Street. But after some pushback from neighbouring residents and a request from council to come back with an alternate plan, the developers did just that.
Invermere’s Director of Development Services Rory Hromadnik said the “substantially revised” proposal is now three storeys with 41 dwelling units, but minus the community building which has been dropped from the plan.
“The new building plans show the structure set back from nearby roadways to provide for more on-site outdoor space,” Hromadnik outlined in his report.
He noted that district staff support moving forward with the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments, which will require a new public consultation process in the form of another public hearing.
Architect for the project, Amit Price Patel, said the development will provide a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units prioritized for Métis families and other Indigenous community members.
He explained the application proposes to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) future land use designation from planned residential to multi-family (high density) residential. In addition, to amend the zoning from R-2 low density residential to comprehensive development zone-6.
Patel said the project team has worked diligently to address the feedback (from the April public hearing) by lowering the height of the building to three storeys and omitting the proposed cultural community building.
The architect also noted they are reducing the overlook of the building and increasing privacy; windows and balconies have been limited on the west-facing elevations. The roof is now proposed as a gable (pitched) style roof.
“We feel that the proposed development is well aligned with the general intent of the OCP and meets several objectives and policies of the OCP,” Patel said in his report to council.
Patel pointed out they will be constructing a sidewalk along 11th Avenue to connect the site to the existing sidewalk infrastructure on 10th Street.
Bicycle infrastructure will also be included in the design, with Class 1 and Class 2 bicycle parking for residents.
Invermere councillor Kayja Becker told the Pioneer that council believes there are enough changes in the plan to warrant another hearing.
“I appreciate the work that MNBC has done to update the project as it shows a willingness to make it make sense in the community. Now we will see if the public feels they’ve addressed the concerns enough,” Becker said.
Fellow councillor Gerry Taft said much of the previous opposition was over the four storeys in the initial application. “It will be very interesting to see if this removes opposition to the rezoning or whether people raise different concerns.”
Taft noted that council needs to keep an open mind up to the end of the next public hearing and is anticipating to hear the feedback from residents before making any decisions.
“It sounds like MNBC will also do further public engagement sessions prior to the public hearing and it is hoped that they will have some additional artists renderings and/or models and as much detail as possible to help the public to visualize what is being proposed with the zoning change,” said Taft.
The Pioneer was unable to solicit a comment from Mayor Al Miller by press time Tuesday.
