The latest changes to the proposed Laburnum Road development in Qualicum Beach are a step in the right direction, say some council members.
After initially negotiating the development at 560-570 Laburnum Rd. down to 10 large lots in November, Mayor Teunis Westbroek brought forward a motion in January to make the development more suitable and affordable to families.
The changes to the development, planning director Luke Sales said at Monday’s meeting, increase the number of units to 22 lots from 10, with lots ranging in size from 500 square metres to 1,200 square metres.
“What’s unique and different from the last proposal council saw was that there are six lots in the development that would permit duplexes,” Sales said. “The remaining single-family houses would have secondary suites permitted as well as garden suites on the larger lots.”
This application, according to Monday’s agenda, divides the property into three areas. The north part (Area A) of the development would be donated to the town for conservation purposes. The south part (Area C) of the development would be for the 22-lot development. The area in the middle (Area B) is remaining a rural residential zoning with two existing homes.
Council moved the Laburnum Road development, with its newest changes, to second reading. Councillors Barry Avis and Anne Skipsey voted no.
Skipsey, who has never voted in favour of any of the proposed developments, said it won’t end up being a family-friendly development.
“The applicant plans to subdivide and then turn the building lots over to whoever purchases the properties,” said Skipsey.
“So for $10,000 any of these contractors can get out of building a duplex or a family-friendly home which is exactly what happened across the street.”
Both Avis and Skipsey have said the development adjacent to Qualicum Beach Elementary School, which is almost finished, does not include any families.
“I have not one reason to believe that this proposal will end up differently,” Skipsey said. “Fooled once, shame on you. Fooled twice, well, you know.”
On the other hand, Coun. Bill Luchtmeijer said it was a long way around the circle to get back to where they were some time ago.
“It helps address some of our housing diversity and it becomes an important feature, some of which was pressed on us by the fact that the school (district) chose to put an elementary school there.”
Luchtmeijer said council hears all the time that people like the town the way it is.
“Well, when I came here it was quite different than it is now and 30 years from now it’s going to be quite different again,” Luchtmeijer said.
This proposed development, now at 22 units, had originally been proposed for 60 units. After council shot that down, the applicant came back with about 30 units. Council also turned down that proposal before voting in favour of the previous 10-unit development.
The next regular council meeting is April 10 at 7 p.m.