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Qualicum Beach still looking for groups interested in developing low-cost housing

Ravensbourne Lane is targetted for rezoning
30609522_web1_221012-PQN-QB-housing-proposal-QB_1
(PQB News file photo)

The Town of Qualicum Beach is still looking for a non-profit organization to develop low-cost housing development at 865 Ravensbourne Lane.

Council, at its regular meeting on Sept. 28, unanimously voted to direct staff to continue with 2022 Request for Expressions of Interest process which will publicly identify a not-for-profit housing development partner for the town-owned property and that the zoning amendment for the property be considered in an expedited process to the best extent of the town.

Prior to that, Coun. Scott Harrison made a notice of motion for staff to prepare for a rezoning for 865 Ravensbourne Lane to facilitate worker housing based on small clusters of residential units, substantially similar to R18 and utilizing a streamlined rezoning process.

“R18 allows for duplexes and tighter setbacks,” said Harrison. “And the intention her is just to allow something that would, whether it’s tiny homes or fourplexes, or whatever the non-profit we’re working with wants to do, that gives them the flexibility to do that.”

READ MORE: Qualicum Beach to look for expressions of interest for low-cost housing

Harrison said he wanted to follow the lead of City of Victoria where land has been pre-zoned to accommodate dedicated non-profit housing developers.

The existing Agricultural One zoning for the Ravensbourne Lane property only allows one residence, said Harrison, and the rezoning would allow more residences.

Harrison’s notice of motion did not pass but council endorsed staff’s alternative recommendation.

“There’s an opportunity to work with the proponent in this case to actually understand what they would like to build on the site,” said Luke Sale, director of planning. “Clearly the town has conveyed an interest in work force housing for this site and that’s fabulous. That was in the requests for expression of interest. Having said that, exactly how many units they want on that site, what the configuration would be, that’s entirely variable at this point and drafting a zoning bylaw before the non-profit has an opportunity to propose a something would mean that we would be guessing and potentially have to do a second rezoning later on.”

Michael.Briones@pqbnews.com

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Michael Briones

About the Author: Michael Briones

I rejoined the PQB News team in April 2017 from the Comox Valley Echo, having previously covered sports for The NEWS in 1997.
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