Peachland Council has had the first test of its new development zoning that limits building heights on Beach Avenue.
The zoning (CR3) restricts mixed-use developments to 12 metres (39 feet) and a maximum of three storeys. This came after the previous council approved a four-storey building on Beach Avenue in 2022. The height issue caused controversy in the community and threaded its way through that year鈥檚 municipal election campaign.
At Tuesday鈥檚 (Jan. 28) meeting, council considered a six-unit residential development at 4062 Beach Avenue by Ridgeroc Homes. The application falls under the CR3 zone and stipulates commercial use on the ground floor frontage.
Greg Campbell with Ridgeroc Homes requested that the commercial requirement be waived, pointing out that it would not fit in with the residential area. Council had no issue with that but balked at the tourist accommodation designation allowing short-term rentals (STR). Campbell said losing STR use was not a deal-breaker.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not part of our goal, but it gives more options for us and whoever is going to buy these units,鈥� he added.
Some councillors challenged that those changes effectively altered the CR3 zoning, potentially setting a precedent, and suggested that the application might better suit a residential zoning.
鈥淚t seems like we don鈥檛 have our CR3 ducks in a row,鈥� said Coun. Dave Collins.
He pointed out that council is about to review its Official Community Plan (OCP) and suggested Beach Avenue could be split into separate zones: one south of 13th Street, which could allow short-term rentals, and another north of 13th Street, which would be maintained for residential use only.
鈥淲hen we created the zone, we really didn鈥檛 address that,鈥� Collins noted. 鈥淲hich isn鈥檛 really fair to developers bringing forth an application to council.鈥�
Council voted to move the development forward but removed short-term rentals and commercial use, limited the project to six units, and reinforced the height restrictions.
Coun. Keith recused himself from the discussion and vote as he lives near the development. Coun. Terry Condon did not attend the Tuesday regular meeting.
