A 140.5-acre raw land site in Parksville, B.C. designated in 2013 under the Island city’s official community plan for a mix of residential and commercial use, is now in limbo after city council voted down a development opportunity.
Vancouver-based District Developments’ proposal to build up to 800 residential units on the land next to the Englishman River was defeated by Parksville council at third reading on Monday, March 20.
The Monday vote puts an end to the rezoning application by District. The earlier public hearing was packed with opponents to the plan, many worried about the potential impact the salmon-bearing river. The land has more than 4,200 feet of frontage on the Englishman River, which the developer said would be protected as green space for the development.
Only Mayor Doug O’Brien voted in favour of the proposal for 1465 Greig Rd. He cited the need for workforce housing for the community, saying a single-family house in the city can cost $1 million.
Parksville needs affordable, diverse housing for health care workers, people who work in the trades, hospitality employees and single-parent families, O’Brien said, calling the proposal from District Developments, of Vancouver, a visionary plan.
District had promised to pay more than $1,000 per unit into a habitat improvement fund, O'Brien said.
Environmental and First Nations concerns were key reasons other council members did not back the plan. They referred to the many citizens who spoke out against the development, which would have gone up south of the city on land currently zoned agricultural.
Ten years ago, Parksville adopted their official community plan which designated the property as a planned neighbourhood featuring a mix of residential densities and housing options with neighbourhood commercial services.
Based on engineering studies, the District proposal included 48 acres of the site left for green space in riparian and floodplain areas, according to Macdonald Commercial of Vancouver, which has the land listed for $13.9 million.
“An existing sewer line is located at the northern edge of the property with expected capacity to accommodate an additional 1,600 residents. Hydro and cable/telephone services can be brought to the property from nearby access points. A storm water management system can be built on site to service the property,” according to Macdonald’s listing information on its web page..
