Revelstoke city council has given their approval for the Oscar Lands Master Plan which will accommodate a mixture of for market and non-market housing.
The master plan for 1004 Oscar St. is a non-statutory document and was created by Urban Systems for the City of Revelstoke in February 2024 in response to the third foundational action of Revelstoke’s Housing Action Plan.
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A need for more affordable housing was addressed as non-market housing were included in the planning.
On Feb. 27 Revelstoke city council met and discussed the proposed plan. City planner, Paul Simon, introduced Dan Penner of Urban Systems. Penner shared his presentation where his plans illustrated different options for the proposed site.
The presentation outlines a long-term vision and strategies for the development of the site over the next 10-20 years.
Penner noted how the public was involved throughout the planning process including stakeholder meetings and a community survey.
The presentation included two residential concepts. Concept 1 is referred to as “residential mix concept.” According to Penner’s presentation this would include: 345 dwelling units through a mix of townhome, apartment, and mixed-use buildings, ground-floor commercial space, 431 parking stalls for residential and commercial uses, outdoor recreation area (basketball and pickleball courts), large natural and passive recreation area, and a gateway area with transit stop.
Concept 1:
Concept 2 is referred to as “public use reserve concept.” This concept features 250 dwelling units through a mix of townhome, apartment, and mixed-use buildings, higher residential densities to maximize land, ground-floor commercial space, 300 parking stalls for residential and commercial uses, large public reserve area included in concept, and a gateway area with transit stop.
Concept 2:
As the plan was discussed, Councillor Stapenhurst brought up the issue of the proximity of the site to the sewage treatment plant.
“Who wants to play in a pickleball court downwind from that,” he asked.
Simon responded by pointing out that planning has a “nasty history of placing marginalized communities adjacent to land uses that are not desirable.” He also said that the city only has so much land available that can be used for affordable housing.
Although the two different concepts were not debated during this meeting, Councillor Palmer noted his preference for concept 2.
The motion that the plan be approved passed unanimously and Mayor Gary Sulz said that they will continue to discuss the plan in more detail.