Public strongly opposes high-density development concept in Lantzville

Votes of third and fourth reading by Lantzville councillors are required to advance to plan.

Lantzville resident Joan Jones said nearly 1,200 people in the community signing a petition against the concept speaks volumes.

“Some on Council, along with a few residents, suggest that Council ignore this petition claiming that the silent majority is in favour of the massive development proposed. This is a very convenient stance, but it has no credibility.”

Jones said many residents she’s spoken to want Council to stick to the existing official community plan, which envisioned only 400 residential units in the area.

The petition gatherer said very few of the “hundreds of residents” she spoke to are in favour of Village South, citing the quieter lifestyle and semi-rural character of Lantzville as important qualities to many people.

A rendering from Lantzville Rd. looking up Ware Rd. detaling the conceptual Village South area with multi-storey housing and ground-level retail. (District of Lantzville)

Unknowns of the complete build-out of the development were also referenced by people, while traffic congestion, a lack of green space and servicing costs were referenced by multiple speakers.

Lantzville resident Hans Larsen said signaling support for substantially more housing than what’s permitted is problematic.

“And that doesn’t include the hundred seniors’ supportive housing units that may or may not be built on Village South. There is simply no rational strong enough to justify that strong of an increase,” Larsen said.

Several Lantzville residents honed in on sentiments expressed by Larsen, including Rick Rathy.

While clearly stating he’s not anti-development, Rathy said more attention needs to be paid to the existing official community plan.

“Many neighbours in the community of Lantzville spent about two years developing this, so we need to pay attention to it otherwise we are going to end up as a community in turmoil and none of us wants that,” Rathy said.

The concept of developer, Lantzville Projects, envisions both single-family and multi-family housing, as well as retail and other commercial uses, potentially including a small grocery store.

A large community park and smaller neighbourhood park are planned, as is a roundabout on Ware Rd. at Lantzville Rd. Sidewalks are envisioned to line both sides of the lower section of Ware Rd.

A map showing the scope of the Village South proposal, including different styles of residential housing and integration with the existing village area of downtown Lantzville area. (District of Lantzville)

Frank Linshue, the director of planning and community services for the District of Lantzville, emphasized the project faces much further scrutiny should the framework be approved.

He said a phased development agreement would be required, which would also need to go to public hearing and be endorsed by councillors.

The permitting phase and subdivision approvals would also need to be adhered to, Linshue noted.

“It’s at the development permit and subdivision stage where we get into the real finite detail design for the project,” Linshue pointed out at the start of the hearing.

The District of Lantzville, home to around 3,800 people, had been stagnant population-wise for decades.

Population growth has slowly risen in the community in recent years.

The proposed Village South development would fill in a substantial area of vacant land just south of downtown Lantzville. (District of Lantzville)

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Public strongly opposes high-density development concept in Lantzville

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