Protesters disrupted a town of Lantzville meeting on Sept. 28, forcing a lengthy delay by staging a demonstration against the Clark/Medd development. It was one of several protests before the development was approved on Nov. 2. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

POINT OF ORDER

Lantzville council approve Clark/Medd development, aim to set record straight

Nov 4, 2020 | 5:30 AM

LANTZVILLE — An extensive residential development in Lantzville received a contentious green light as Lantzville district councillors now look to clear the air.

Councillors voted 3-2 in favour of a zoning bylaw and amendment to the Official Community Plan on Monday, Nov. 2. It paves the way for a 250-unit residential housing development in upper Lantzville to proceed despite objections from mayor Mark Swain and coun. Ian Savage.

Visceral reaction to the development from sections of the community, including protests at municipal hall and bitter online discourse, will see the town take the unprecedented step of sending a letter to all residents explaining the decision.

“In my opinion, there was a notion that somehow council was acting contrary to the OCP, that the proposal did not meet the goals nor the strategic priorities that we as council set out when we first took over as council almost two years ago,” coun. Will Geselbracht said, who backed the development.

Geselbracht argued the letter would show how the Clark/Medd proposal fits the vision for Lantzville outlined in the OCP and meets many strategic goals the town has.

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He added he understood objections to the project, but council had been elected to act in the best interest of the community.

“Democracy is electing five councillors including a mayor and you ask us to listen and to vote. When we’re sitting here at this table, we are the community. I understand there’s people who don’t like the vote who may not understand it, you’ll get your chance in two years.”

Coun. Jamie Wilson said talk about the development, particularly on social media, muddied the waters and upset many residents who felt attacked or afraid to share their views.

“It’s just tough to get fair communication within the community right now and that’s why unfortunately a precedent has to be set (to send the letter) because a precedent has been set elsewhere,” Wilson said.

The loudest descenting voice belonged to Savage, who not only objected the development, but also opposed sending the letter.

“It’s provably false that (Clark/Medd) is totally compliant with the OCP. It’s not my opinion, it’s provably false. There are statements in the OCP which are completely contrary to (this development),” Savage said.

Critics of the proposal cite density as their key objection to the Clark/Medd development. A recently adopted OCP in Lantzville provisionally allowed approximately 170 units to be built, however 280-or-more were previously proposed by developers.

The number was reduced to 250 in October in response to complaints from the public.

“We’ll get noise, we’ll get a crowded landscape, we’ll get degradation of our beautiful, green community and we’ll also pay more taxes…I just don’t see what’s in it for us,” Brian Blood, Lantzville resident, told NanaimoNewsNOW in September.

A letter outlining the rationale to allow the Clark/Medd development will be written by staff and returned to council for approval at their next scheduled meeting.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley