A development is being proposed for an area on Tanya Dr. south of Lost Lake Rd. in north Nanaimo, looking to add 80 living units across 20 separate townhouse-style fourplexes. (City of Nanaimo)

By Jordan Davidson

new neighbourhood

Development proposed for forested area off north Nanaimo’s Lost Lake Road

Mar 3, 2025 | 11:52 AM

NANAIMO — An ambitious development proposal could transform a mostly forested area into a new community.

The proposed site at the end of Tanya Dr. calls for 20 townhouse-style fourplexes with 80 living units total.

During a Thursday, Feb. 27 Design Advisory Panel meeting, the project’s development manager with the District Group Kurtis Buick said a condition of rezoning the area for development included building a new public road for the area.

“We have a main throughfare road that’s a dedicated road that stands 10 to 20 metres in width as you move from west to east across the site. This road will be dedicated to the City and will eventually turn into a connection between Tanya Dr. and Lost Lake Rd. eventually, as the neighbouring parcels developed out in the future.”

The development would be split into two areas, with six buildings along the west portion and 14 buildings along a looping driveway, with protected wetlands in the middle.

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The buildings would be mainly a mix of one and two-bedroom units, with eight of those units containing three bedrooms.

The proposed area for the development currently consists of single-family and undeveloped lots. (City of Nanaimo)

On-site parking will be provided through 134 parking spaces adjacent to the private drive lanes.

Recommendations made by members of the design advisory panel included changes to some of the building exteriors for a greater variation in materials and colour to avoid a monochromatic look and incorporating more natural elements like wood or stone.

Other suggestions include adding a pedestrian network connecting the area to the adjacent public road, designated areas for waste pickup and bicycle parking, and any proposed retaining wall design should reflect the site’s natural character.

Retaining as much of the natural forest and vegetation of the area was also an area of concern for the panel.

“We understand that if we want to build housing, obviously some trees and things of that nature have to come down in order to facilitate that,” said Buick. “So we tried to cluster the development pockets in two discreet areas to try and preserve as much of that area as possible.”

A rendering of the proposed plan, dubbed “Lost Lake Hills.” (City of Nanaimo)

The design panel voted to accept the presentation as presented, with the provision that the applicant return with a revised landscape plan incorporating some of their recommended changes.

The project, known as Lost Lake Hills, still requires a development permit before any work on-site can begin, once it makes it past the design advisory stage.

A property located north of the proposed site at 5320 Tanya Dr. had a previous development permit in 2022 for 37 townhouses, but it has yet to be developed.

With the lot being rezoned, it aligns with City of Nanaimo’s Official Community Plan which prohibits public hearings under the Local Government Act. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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