When people talk about the buildout of the downtown area of Qualicum Beach, they talk about numbers — of both people and buildings.
However, those numbers only tell part of the tale, a situation one councillor wants to address.
Coun. Mary Brouilette called on her colleagues and staff to consider making the issue more visual.
“The buildout allowed in the current OCP in the village core is approximately 3,000 people,” she said. “I move council instruct staff to prepare visuals demonstrating the different housing options that could be built on vacant lots in town, such as condos or two or three-storey buildings, and what row housing would look like and what duplexes would look like in the contest we are talking about.”
This way, she said, residents would be able to get a clearer idea of what is talked about during the current OCP review process.
Council agreed, with Coun. Jack Wilson seconding the motion and Mayor Teunis Westbroek making a friendly amendment to include not just vacant lots but also some older homes on large lots that could be redeveloped.
“That’s a good suggestion,” he said. “That way, people can visualize what kind of development or redevelopment we can have.”
Brouilette’s motion passed unanimously.