Councillors in Quailicum Beach requested a pair of proposed housing developments be re-worked, following complaints about the buildings' height and not fitting in with the community's "small-town feel". (Town of Qualicum Beach)

By Jordan Davidson

three storey limit

Qualicum Beach Councillors knock back two housing developments due to building heights

Jun 20, 2025 | 2:07 PM

QUALICUM BEACH — A pair of major developments with over 100 residential units combined are too tall for the community, according to some Town Councillors.

The first proposal is for a 55-unit multi-residential building with ground floor commercial space at 201, 207, and 211 First Ave. West, at the corner of Beach Rd., presented at the Wednesday, June 18 Council meeting.

The developer asked to rezone the area to allow the building to include more than three storeys, with a requested height increased from 12.75 metres to 20.6 metres, something Coun. Petronella Vander Valk was vehemently against.

“I think that we really need to be clear on what has just happened in our OCP (Official Community Plan) review process, where people do value the small-town character of Qualicum Beach, and that we do need to respect the neighbours that are around this…and I don’t think we should sacrifice our town unnecessarily.”

Vander Valk said she doesn’t think the proposal meets their OCP requirements, and they should tell the developers “three storeys is the limit.”

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Coun. Anne Skipsey agreed, saying the scale and height of the building is “too tall” for the area.

“I was on council when a previous proposal came forward, it was four storeys, and we sent it back and approved it at three storeys, and I think that’s what is appropriate in this location. We keep hearing again and again when we do our OCP that it’s the small-town character that people like the most about Qualicum Beach.”

The proposal would gift the 5,000 square foot ground-floor commercial space to the Town, suggesting it be used for a healthcare facility.

A rendering of the proposed building on First Ave. with the commercial space in the bottom floor with residential units above it. (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Not all were against the proposal.

Coun. Scott Harrison said the developer might have to forgo the commercial space if they’re forced to reduce the height.

He said it’s a rare opportunity to be “gifted” a medical clinic, which could service Qualicum Beach residents only, compared to privately-run clinics which can’t “discriminate” against patients based on location.

“We are not the same community we were 10-15 years ago demographically. We are increasingly a community of older seniors; it’s a quarter of our population. That number is going to significantly rise in the next census as well.”

Harrison said asking the developer to reduce the building to three storeys is “not a compromise, that’s a dictate.”

Mayor Teunis Westbroek said there are building height exceptions in the OCP if the proposal meets certain character descriptions for the town.

While he admits he’s not totally comfortable mandating a three-storey limit, maintaining the small-town character and feel is what they heard from voters during the 2022 municipal election.

“I know there’s gotta be some maneuverability there because of the topography, and I think the proponent, sitting here now, knows how serious we are about maintaining the character of the town. So if they want this project to proceed in any form, they are going to have to take notice that this is not like the previous council.”

Westbroek said the current Council was partly elected because residents didn’t want five or six-storey buildings in the community.

Memorial Ave. development
A second project was also sent back to the developers under similar circumstances.

The proposal for 532 Memorial Ave. is for a multi-storey, 52-unit multi-residential development with tourist accommodations across four buildings, with the tallest residential building seeking a height variance for a 21.06 metre building, up from the permitted 7.5 metres.

Council asked the developer to consider reducing the building height to three storeys, conduct a traffic impact study for Memorial Ave. and Hoylake Rd., and address several other details brought up as complaints from neighbours.

The proposed development at 532 Memorial Ave. has already made several adjustments based on council concerns, including reducing the number of units from 80 to 52, removing two stories on the east and west side of the building, and the elimination of the fifth floor, except for an elevator lobby and community room to access a rooftop deck amenity space. (Town of Qualicum Beach)

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