The owner of a property on Poplar Avenue in Qualicum Beach wants to rezone the land to allow for two evenly-sized lots. The change requires an amendment to allow for a reduction in the town’s minimum width of a lot.
The proposal has neighbouriing residents concerned over the potential for new homes on those lots to be higher, therefore cutting off their ocean views — even though town staff recommend that any new house on the second lot created be limited to one story.
Town councillor Bill Luchmeijer excused himself from discussions, declaring a conflict of interest (he said his campaign manager lives nearby). The rest of council deferred any decision to their March 12 meeting.
• The Town will work with the Regional District of Nanaimo on creating a ‘Beach Day’ festival — the makeup of which will depend on the outcome of planning discussions.
• The Town won’t build a new shelter for patrons of their off leash dog park on Bennett Road.
• Staff were tasked with investigating the potential sources of revenue from supplying people with dog waste bags.
• Qualicum Beach will pay $322,927 for a new sewer cleaning and Hydro excavator truck.
• Town council will no longer answer questions at the end of their regular meetings. In a procedural change, Mayor Teunis Westbroek said council will now only hear people’s general comments during that specific time in each meeting.
• The Town received a grant of $20,000 to develop an age-friendly transportation plan.
• Council approved location and day and time requests for a variety of regular seasonal events in town, from the farmers’ market at St. Mark’s Fair, to Show and Shine and more.