The developers of the College Heights site in Qualicum Beach have a new development permit that allows them to increase building heights while staying within the community’s restrictions.
The owners of the heritage site, Ainsley Foster and PR Pomeroy Restoration and Construction can now avoid costly excavation procedures for the three luxury condo buildings they plan to construct to add to the heritage building currently on site.
On Monday night, town council passed an amendment to the original development permit, with only Mayor Teunis Westbroek opposed. The mayor said he has “never been in favour of this project.”
The owners plan a total 40 units in the four buildings, ranging in size from 1,100-1,900 square feet and in price from $449,000-$949,000.
A town source has confirmed neighbouring residents have initiated legal action against the project, but that same source did not want to comment on the status of that action or how it might affect the progress of the development.
Foster and PR Pomeroy owner Dean Pomeroy were unavailable for comment by deadline.
The site and the heritage building has quite a colourful history. According to the project website (qualicumcollegeheights.ca) Robert Ivan Knight built the Qualicum College Boys School in 1935.
“The schoolmaster soon endeared himself to the community of Qualicum Beach and became not only a pillar, but an influence,” reads the website. “The formal Tudor walls of the college and the eloquent beauty of an English garden were soon reflected in the quaint redesign of the town of Qualicum Beach.”
Knight closed the school in 1970. The building became the Qualicum College Inn and later the Qualicum Heritage Inn and was home to accommodations and a popular pub. Foster and Pomeroy bought the site in 2006.