Ladysmith town council carried third reading of an official community plan and zoning bylaw amendment for 1260 Churchill Place, following a public hearing on Nov. 2.
The proposed zoning would permit about 27 multi-family units (apartments or townhouses) and 10 lots for single-family units and would dedicate 0.33 hectares as park. The subdivision plan will also dedicate a road right of way, connecting Churchill Place to McKinley Road.
The Town previously purchased the property to allow for an emergency access route during construction of the 4th Ave culvert and it is now in the process of being zoned so it can be sold, ready to develop. The new owner will be required by the town to designate either a multi-family or a single unit as affordable housing.
Some residents expressed concern at the hearing about increased traffic and parking needs in the area. One speaker said she would like to see more than a single affordable unit designated as affordable housing.
Mayor Aaron Stone said he agrees there are not enough affordable housing and rental units in Ladysmith and across Vancouver Island. “We would very much like to be able to afford to dedicate more land to affordable housing,” he said. “There is the one lot there that is dedicate to below market. There also is a smaller lot size there so the houses that would be built would be relatively inexpensive relative to other new construction in Ladysmith.” He added higher density, multi-residential units can contribute to lower purchase and rental costs.
Stone also said the future developer will be required to upgrade Churchill Road to mitigate concerns about increased traffic.
The proposed amendments will come to council again for adoption at a future meeting.
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editor@ladysmithchronicle.com
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