Qualicum Beach Coun. Robert Filmer wants the community amenity contribution from a 16-lot development to be allocated for parks and environmental conservation and local health care.
The land value of the 16-lot subdivision development, at 850 Eaglecrest Dr./2075 Island Highway West, once the 6.4-acre property rezoning application is completed, will be between $2.2 million to $2.5 million. Based on the appraised value, the developers would be required to make a community amenity contribution of between $780,000 to $1,090,000. Town staff opted for the highest CAC amount of $1,090,000.
There has been council discussions in the past that the CAC from this development should be used for a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Village Way and Island Highway 19A.
Filmer, at council’s regular meeting on June 8, indicated he doesn’t want the CAC attached to any project. He made a motion that 50 per cent of the community amenity contribution to be allocated to parks and environmental conservation and the other half dedicated for local health care.
Coun. Teunis Westbroek was against the motion and said the landlift analysis completed in 2021, fall short of the current average price value recently reported by the Vancouver Real Estate Board. He said last May the property price increase in Qualicum Beach is 29.9 per cent.
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“The landlift proposed when this was before council last year should therefore be adjusted accordingly to represent the current value,” said Westbroek according to the town’s CAC policy.
Westbroek calculated the landlift value accruing to the town should be $2.5 million. He also pointed out the CAC policy states “there should be a a clear link between the proposed amenity and the probable impacts of the rezoning.”
Westbroek said he is against the development due to concerns raised by residents. He wants council to follow the town’s CAC policy. He made a notice of motion for staff to work with the developer on adjusting the CACs and the allocations of those funds.
Director of planning Luke Sales informed council the land lift analysis was done at the time of the application and is no longer subject to re-evaluation, as it has already gone through the public information process.
Filmer said whether residents agree with the development or not, the sizable amenity contribution to the community will be a benefit to the town.
Coun. Anne Skipsey stated “no amount of money can replace a rare and at risk intact old-growth Douglas Fir forest iconic to Qualicum Beach.”
Council passed Filmer’s motion by a vote of 3-2. Mayor Brian Wiese, Coun. Scott Harrison and Filmer voted in favour with Westbroek and Skipsey opposed.
The application to the town to rezone the area from Residential 1 (R1) to Residential 12 (R12) and change Subdivision District B designation to Subdivision District D and to amend the Official Community Plan as the land is designated Estate Residential and is outside the Urban Containment Boundary, was already given third reading by council and is a step away from adoption.