Qualicum Beach council has approved a zoning amendment application for the Naked Naturals mixed-use development at 111 Fourth Avenue West.
The property, formerly known as the Bus Garage, is zoned for institutional purposes and the amendment would change it to commercial, which would allow development for a commercial and residential space.
The Naked Naturals development will feature a commercial food store on the ground floor and and nine residential units on the second floor, as well as surface and underground parking.
Director of Planning Luke Sales explained the development permit of the project is not being approved in conjunction with the zoning amendment. That will be another process that council will deliberate on. The public will also get a chance to provide input.
Council gave it third reading and adoption at its regular meeting on Jan. 12, with an amendment made by Coun. Scott Harrison for a covenant to be established before issuance of a development permit, as a temporary measure, to ensure the proponents will not schedule deliveries from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Nearby residents have raised concerns about the beeping noise delivery trucks create when backing into the loading and unloading bay. Harrison said, the proponents have informed staff they will not be scheduling deliveries early in the morning.
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Coun. Teunis Westbroek is in favour of the covenant if the neighbourhood agrees.
“If they’re (Naked Naturals) willing to restrict themselves, then I don’t see why we would be having a problem with that,” said Westbroek. “So well done if we can accommodate these concerns and address them before it happens, that’s wonderful.
Harrison also wants to see the covenant to eventually be applicable to all businesses located near residences. He suggested council consider establishing a bylaw in the future.
“We can’t really do this on the fly,” said Harrison. “I think it has to be sort of done fairly with some thought behind it. But the intent would be that, temporarily we’re doing this, but in the long run, if this council or subsequent council decides we should address this more broadly, that will make this covenant disappear so that they’ll be treated the same as the other businesses that are subject to that bylaw. That’s the general intent.”