North Pender committee advances six-unit housing rezoning
The committee directed staff to prepare a draft bylaw for the Pender Islands Housing Society application and voted to give notice of first reading without holding a public hearing.
The North Pender Firestarter · Governance · 2023-10-21 · updated 2026-10-13 · North Pender Island
The proposed rezoning would allow multi-unit dwellings of up to six units, rather than the two-unit dwellings permitted under current zoning, according to the preliminary staff report presented to the North Pender Island Local Trust Committee. The committee directed staff to proceed with the application and prepare a draft bylaw.[1]
The committee also resolved not to hold a public hearing for the bylaw and directed staff to give notice of first reading. The minutes say notice must be sent before first reading if the committee proceeds without a public hearing.[1]
During discussion, a speaker said the application for BC Housing funding meant the society could not start rezoning without risking disqualification. Island Planner Brad Smith said provincial legislation required the rezoning process and that staff could not change the bylaw wording without due process. Smith also said BC Housing could work with the process even if the society was not ready by November 17.[1]
The meeting minutes describe the housing project as an early step toward a community housing action plan. Island Planner Narissa Chadwick said North Pender was about nine months from having an action plan, while the major project would not start until April because staff were waiting for Trust Council budget approval.[1]
Sources
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North Pender Island Local Trust Committee Special Meeting Minutes, October 21, 2023
The current zoning only allows for two unit dwellings, and they want to build multi unit dwellings up to six units
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