Kings Lane Project Update: Affordable Housing + Medical Clinic Expansion

The Gulf Islands Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) is a non-profit society founded in 1998. We built and have operated Meadowbrook (38 units of supportive affordable seniors housing) on Atkins Road since 2003. We also own the 3.43-acre property at 154–164 Kings Lane, that houses the Salt Spring Island Health Centre.

For almost three years, since cancelling the original seniors’ project planned for that site, we’ve been working to move forward on a two-part community project:

1. 50 units of affordable rental housing — workforce-focused, with some homes prioritized for other long-term residents; and
2. Expansion of the health centre (clinic).

Here is an update on where things stand now.

Affordable housing: what we’re planning to build and who it’s for

Our plans are to build 50 affordable rental homes with a mix of unit sizes from studio apartments to 3-bedroom units.

Our goal is affordability for a range of incomes on Salt Spring. Rents will be highly dependent on the amount of funding and fundraising achieved, but we are currently targeting rents that range from as low as $600 to $2,700, depending on unit type and household income.

The housing is specifically for existing long-term island residents and employed workers, with long-term affordability ensured with a Housing Agreement registered on title as part of the rezoning process.

Clinic expansion: a parallel project, planned and funded separately

The clinic expansion is a separate (but coordinated) effort. We continue discussions with the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation (LMHF) and the Island Community Clinic Society (ICCS) to coordinate our site planning and regulatory approvals with their planning and fundraising.

With the doctors at the Salt Spring Island Health Centre, we are all working together to help bring additional doctors to Salt Spring to join with existing doctors and primary care providers in an expanded community clinic.

Another key step for the clinic is creating a separate lot through subdivision, so the clinic and housing projects can each move forward on their own lots and their own timelines.

GISRA’s focus over the last several months has been to secure regulatory approvals and permits to allow the subdivision to proceed, and to be considered “construction ready” by senior government affordable housing funding programs.

Major milestones: rezoning complete, development permit issued, preliminary subdivision review received, sewer system connection underway

As previously reported, the rezoning was completed by the Local Trust Committee in February 2026. This updated zoning allows affordable housing without age restrictions, expansion of the existing clinic building (Salt Spring Island Health Centre), a daycare centre and a subdivision to create separate parcels of land for the housing and for the clinic.

The Local Trust Committee’s commitment to developing more affordable housing was clearly on display during this process, as they expedited and prioritised the rezoning. We think we may have achieved a record with this rezoning, which was first presented in July 2025 and completed 7 months later! GISRA extends a huge thank you to Islands Trust Trustees and staff for their work to help us achieve this important milestone.

Meanwhile, GISRA’s Kings Lane development team proceeded with a subdivision application to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit in March 2026. This involved creating a lot size and configuration that met all zoning, subdivision and servicing requirements, as well as ensuring sufficient space on each lot to meet housing building and clinic expansion needs.

Thanks in part to the Province of BC’s policy to expedite subdivisions that facilitate affordable housing, GISRA received subdivision Preliminary Layout Review in July 2026 — another very quick turnaround! This lays out all the conditions for final approval, which we expect by the end of 2026.

Water supply for the proposed housing project will come from two existing groundwater wells on the property that have been thoroughly tested and are capable of supplying water of sufficient quantity and excellent quality. Water for the clinic will be supplied by the North Salt Spring Waterworks District.

Sewer system connection is required for both the housing and the subdivision. GISRA’s civil engineer has completed a detailed design to extend the sewer line to both sites to allow connection of the housing and the clinic to the sewer system. We expect approval of our connection applications soon.

This means we may see a new sewer line down Blain Road and Kings Lane late this year or early 2027, made possible by the generous commitment of $600,000 from the CRD for the design and line extension. All other property owners along the new line will then also have the opportunity to connect to the sewer system if they so choose.

Development Permits from the Islands Trust are required for both the housing and the subdivision. This requires detailed housing designs that include building form and character, parking and landscaping plans, and details for all planned site work including sewer, water and stormwater drainage.

Our highly skilled design team completed this work and submitted Development Permit applications in April 2026. After a thorough review by Islands Trust staff, our Development Permit was issued on September 24, at the last Local Trust Committee meeting of the current term.

Development Permits are considered an important milestone for senior government funding applications, so again, we appreciate the hard work and dedication shown to complete this process in such a timely fashion.

Funding: what’s committed, and the key challenge we’re facing

We have previously reported on the challenges that GISRA faces in securing sufficient capital funding to be able to proceed to construction of the housing. This is the most difficult part of the housing project and that has not changed.

With the current economic situation that Canada and BC face, we realize that we will need to redouble fundraising efforts to allow this project to proceed.

Total cost is currently estimated at over $20M. We still believe we have about half of this amount covered (mortgage financing, funding and commitments) and continue to seek senior government support for the balance.

Depending on the outcome of those applications, we are also considering a broader community fundraising campaign to bridge any remaining shortfall.

GISRA itself is contributing significantly to the housing project by contributing the land (valued at $1,485,000), over $130,000 in cash equity and fundraising committed to date, and substantial ongoing volunteer, governance and project-management efforts.

Some important commitments are in place, for which we are very grateful:

• The CRD has provided critical and significant support to our housing project: $10,000 Grants-in-Aid, $100,000 pre-development funding, $80,000 in building permit fee relaxation, and $600,000 in Community Works funding to extend the sewer line to our parcel.
• Salt Spring Island Foundation: $100,000 capital grant plus operating support to enhance affordability, should other funding fall into place.
• The Islands Trust Executive Committee sponsored our $4,200 rezoning fee.

What’s next for the rest of 2026 and 2027

Our near-term work program includes:

• Meeting requirements for final Subdivision Approval to create the clinic lot (target this year).
• Receiving the final Sewer Connection approval from the CRD (target this year).
• Extending the sewer line to the site (target late 2026 or early 2027, weather depending).
• Continuing pre-development funding applications so we can further the design process toward the Building Permit stage, to be ready to move quickly once we secure sufficient capital funding.
• Beginning explorations for interest in other community uses that the new zoning now permits on the site, such as child daycare.
• Continued design and budget preparation to be as well placed as possible for a late 2026 or early 2027 Capital Funding Application in partnership with the Lookout Housing and Health Society.
• Exploring whether there is sufficient community interest to help “bring this project home” through a locally led fundraising campaign to support the affordable housing component of the project.

Thank you, and please stay tuned

We know this project matters to Salt Spring: our two goals of stable housing and expanded space for doctors in a community clinic are tightly connected. We understand from hospital staff that daycare space is also critical to recruitment.

We know our site is in a key location that can support these important goals. Our site has excellent access to shops, services, schools, the hospital and transit. And we appreciate the support of every sector of our community.

We have heard repeatedly that affordable housing and primary health care are the most important needs for Salt Spring today and that our Kings Lane site has the best chance of addressing those needs.

We’ll keep posting updates as key milestones are reached. Community support continues to matter, especially as we work to close funding gaps created by changes to senior government programs.