The island

Denman housing co-op asks Trust to consider 10-unit proposal

The Snag Housing Co-op presented a plan for clustered housing at 5400 Northwest Road to the Local Trust Committee on July 15.

The Denman Firestarter · reporting 2025-07-17 · compiled 2026-10-01

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The Snag Housing Co-op asked the Denman Island Local Trust Committee to consider pre-zoning its property at 5400 Northwest Road for 10 housing units in two clusters, to be owned by a not-for-profit housing co-op. The proposal also includes a four-site campground, community garden and shared areas, according to the meeting minutes.^[1]

The delegation said residents would purchase shares rather than own property, and described an affordable-housing buy-in of approximately $75,000 for a half-acre lot, provided lower-cost alternative dwellings are permitted. It said feedback from a recent information session included support and that traffic and tourism concerns would be considered.^[1]

A public commenter raised concerns about pre-zoning before an Official Community Plan update, saying it could limit public input and that the proposal’s density appeared tied to revenue generation. The minutes record the delegation’s response that the project is intended to operate as a not-for-profit, not to generate revenue.^[1]

The planner said the conventional route is a rezoning application, while the committee could also review the Official Community Plan designation and consider site-specific pre-zoning. The delegation said it would continue holding information sessions and developing its proposal.^[1]

The committee also asked staff to schedule a housing-project community engagement session in September or October 2025. The Grapevine advertised a separate housing-project community meeting for July 26 at the Denman Island Community Hall.^[1][2]

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