There was little feedback from the gallery during the open house portion of the Parksville council meeting on an apartment development on Dogwood Street.
One gallery member had several very specific questions and proposals including preferring two taller buildings with a view corridor between them.
Another describing himself as a neighbour said if they change the zoning on that property, it should apply to the whole block, thinking of his future property value he said.
The public hearing portion was held on two aspects — amending the official community plan and a re-zoning application from single and medium family residential (there are three properties) to a new comprehensive development zone.
The staff report points out it is a logical spot for densification, close to downtown, which appears to have been overlooked in previous OCP planning.
“A multifamily residential development at this location would contribute to the overall OCP goals of developing a compact, easily walkable and sustainable community.
As well, the inclusion of affordable housing units is consistent with the affordable housing provisions of the plan,” the report says.
The proposed four story building would be on three currently treed residential lots beside the Dogwood Apartments, across from the Quality Resort Bayside.
There would be 15 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom units including four townhouse-style units on the ground floor with their own garages and street access and six affordable units.
Under the city’s affordable housing bylaw they must meet the housing needs of a household with 80 per cent of the median Parksville income, meaning it would require a current maximum rent of $965 per month.
They would be affordable units for a minimum 15 years and would be exempt from Development Cost Charges, around $85,000 worth in this case.
The proponents had offered $10,000 towards a traffic signal at Highway 19A, but since there are no plans to do that and signals are being considered at other nearby streets, they instead plan extra sidewalk work including 95m across the property plus 60m to the highway.
The project will return to council for three readings each on the requirement to combining the three lots, rezone, relax the 11 metre height to 13.26 metres and decrease parking from 45 to 38 spaces.