Qualicum Beach town council has asked staff to look into any zoning issues related to allowing doctors to work in the Qualicum Commons, the former elementary school in the middle of town.
Since it was re-purposed earlier this year, the building has become a popular hub for community services provided by groups like the school district, town, Regional District of Nanaimo and Society of Organized Services.
Mayor Teunis Westbroek told council last week there was a counsellor working in the facility and he wanted to check if the zoning was appropriate to allow doctors to work there, as part of the town's ongoing efforts to recruit and retain doctors.
He said ongoing meetings between stakeholder groups have been looking into possible local facilities and in terms of the Commons, he wanted to "look at what it would take if we wanted to go there." Westbroek made a notice of motion for staff "to address the regulatory barriers to permitting a multi-doctor office in the Qualicum Commons."
Neither Westbroek or the Oceanside Division — Divisions of Family Practice would say if there are doctors who would like to move into the building or what regulatory barriers there may be.