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Development at credit union site okayed by town

Plans for a redesign of its site and three other properties
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Elevations showing what the facades of buildings along First Avenue will look like

The Ladysmith & District Credit Union has New Year’s plans for a redesign of its site and three other properties at the corner of Roberts Street and First Avenue.

A development permit application for the project was approved by the Town of Ladysmith Council at its Dec. 21 meeting.

It covers the LDCU site plus three other properties on First Avenue that will be consolidated as part of the project: buildings at 318 and 320 First Ave; and a ‘closed road’ that runs west off First Avenue between the main credit union building and the two other buildings.

The existing LDCU building is 7,017 sq ft, the consolidated floor space will be 10,990 sq ft. There will be a total of 55 parking spaces on the consolidated site, with nine new spaces added.

Main elements of the project include:

• a redesign of the three parking areas fronting Roberts Street and First Ave. The middle parking lot will be converted to a plaza with terraced steps leading down into the lower parking area, and a stairway to an upper parking area.

• closing in the lane between the LDCU main building at 330 First Ave. and its Financial Services Centre at 320 First Ave. with a glassed in, connecting ‘atrium’.

Most noticeable to the public will be the new plaza. “The existing LDCU building is sited with a substantial setback from Roberts St., which provides an opportunity to create open spaces and gardens that will provide a more inviting entrance to First Avenue,” says a staff report prepared by Director of Development Services Felicity Adams.

It notes that “the improved exterior spaces will be available as public spaces for events and activities.” It adds that the design will “honour the intent of the existing Tour de Rock mural by creating a space for reflection and celebration.”

Landscaping will be an integral part of the project, which will include 23 new deciduous trees and “a variety of 180 evergreen shrubs, as well as grasses, ferns, hydrangeas, ground covers, perennials, and vines.”

The landscaping plan notes that two plane trees already on the site will be retained.

 





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