Council supports BC Housing request

by Melissa Ligertwood - Castanet Apr 22, 2013 / 5:12 pm
Vernon City Council has agreed to support a rezoning application for a BC Housing project on 24 Street. Vernon Viridian, which will be managed by Kindale Developmental Association, is a $2.85M affordable housing development that will provide up to 20 units for families, singles and people with disabilities in the community. The development was originally planned as 12 townhouse units, but BC Housing wants to redesign the space in order to incorporate another eight bachelor units. The request before council seeks to rezone the property from RM1, row housing, to RH1, low-rise apartments, along with variance requests on front yard setbacks and a reduction in the required parking stalls. If the proposed changes are permitted, the development will have four larger two-bed, two-bath townhomes, and the remaining eight units would be broken down into one-bedroom upper floor units with separate bachelor suites at ground level. Councillor Juliette Cunningham, who visited the development at an open house back in March, spoke in favour of the proposed changes. “I’ve been to the site and it’s a great project. The units are small but designed really well,” said Cunningham. Although parking would be reduced from 27 to 18 stalls, Mayor Sawatsky was quick to point out that, out of the seven applications received for space at the Viridian, none have a vehicle. The matter is scheduled for public hearing on May 27.