The owners of 306 Connaught Drive—the former home of Everything But—are moving forward with the demolition and redevelopment of the lot, after receiving Parks Canada approval for five of seven proposed variances.
Ray Robinson and Diana Laarz appeared before the Planning and Development Advisory Committee late last year, requesting numerous variances, including lot line to lot line construction, an increase in the eave height from six metres to 6.75 metres, a reduction in on-site parking, as well as the use of hanging baskets and planters to meet Parks Canada’s landscaping requirements.
The variances are all part of the couple’s plan to build a modern space next to the brand new Servus Credit Union, with room for a restaurant and commercial space on the ground floor, and a home for themselves and their kids on the second floor, as well as one staff accommodation unit. In the centre of the building would be an open courtyard that extends from the ground floor up to the residential units, so the tenants can look out over a living wall and greenspace.
Parks approved all of the variances except the eave height, which will have to be reduced to six metres, and the elimination of outdoor amenity space for the staff accommodation unit, which will have to have a deck.
Following the decision, Robinson expressed relief, noting that the PDAC process isn’t a walk in the park.
“It’s nice to be over that process because it’s pretty stressful.
“This whole process isn’t easy,” he said, referring to development in Jasper. “Lining up contractors isn’t easy, getting permits isn’t easy.
“But the fact that what we needed approved got approved now allows us to complete the project.”
Laarz said she was happy with the result and noted that the two variances Parks denied are easy to alter.
The next step in the development process is to finalize the design. Laarz said she is already planning a trip to Penticton to meet with her architect, so those plans can be completed.
Once that’s complete, she and Robinson will hire contractors and acquire the appropriate permits, beginning with a demolition permit for the dilapidated building currently on the lot.
The hope is to demolish the building in October and to develop the new space over the winter months, with the building opening in 2016.
“That’s the plan,” said Laarz with a grin.
Robinson and Laarz will be renting out the commercial and office space on the ground floor and have already received interest from someone who’d like to take on the restaurant space.
Nicole Veerman
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