GEORGE DEVELOPMENT UPDATES

SUMMARY OF CURRENT GEORGE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – July 2023

The George Hotel and Residences Development application is coming up for consideration soon and a clarification overview and description of the current application is appropriate. The current Town of Gibsons website now also provides information on the current changes to the application including this summary of the previous substantial work submitted which forms a major portion of the George application.

The George Development consists of the following: i) a 111 room boutique hotel with a Conference Centre and a Spa and Wellness Centre ii) a 39 Residential building iii) A below the street 2 level concrete parkade accommodating the required hotel and residential parking iv) An upgrade of the Hyak Marina to expand additional boating slips by approximately 70 slips and provide for a 150 foot commuter ferry.

The George Application includes the Form and Character, Environmental, Geotechnical and Aquifer Development Permits.

FORM AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AREA NO. 5 APPLICATION:

The George Hotel, Residences, and Parkade Form and Character Development Permit has previously been approved by Planning, Engineering, and a previous Council. The current Form and Character design of the George is in response to previous extensive community and planning input. The current application is the same as previously approved except for minor changes that include the height reduction of one commercial storey by 11 feet 4 inches and the elimination of the previously proposed third level of the parkade. The Form and Character development permit allows for minor changes to the previously approved application. Link here George Development Description with Site sections to see the full document and geotechnical information.

Link below to see the geotechnical aquifer site section map drawings by Horizon Engineering Inc.

Horizon Site Mapping

Decommissioning of Piezometers 

May 2023

Horizon Engineering installed aquifer measurement (piezometers) and monitoring equipment on the George Development site in 2014, and six more in 2019 all with no adverse effect on the aquifer. Horizon has now concluded its report and will decommission the piezometers between May 3-5, 2023.

Design Updates

Fall 2022

Updates made in 2022 have resulted in the spa, fitness, and conferences facilities being amalgamated onto one level resulting in a reduction to the overall project height of 11′ – 4.” The Gower Point Road elevation of the hotel is now 5 storeys. A similar update has been made to the indoor parking garage reducing the square footage by over 3,000 sf ft. The updated development permit submitted to staff for review includes the hotel, residences, and marina extension. Further information is available on the Development Application status page at – gibsons.ca

Archeological Review

A mandatory Squamish Nation, Skwxu7mesh Uxwumixw, archeological review of the site is ongoing with a report expected spring of 2023 by the Squamish Nation and their consultants.

Peer Reviews

Prior to Council review of the design updates and development permit, the Town has requested new peer review analysis of previously submitted geotechnical reports be conducted.

 

For site preparation, and throughout the development process, The GEORGE Marine Resort and Residences project is committed to undertaking due diligence, consultation, and will be working directly with First Nations and their consultants.