District of Lantzville staff, a consultant and property owner all answered questions from Lantzville residents at a series of recent open houses at Costin Hall. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

development plans

Lantzville eyes big development, imbalanced property tax base cited as key driver

Oct 25, 2025 | 8:49 AM

LANTZVILLE — A transformational vision for upper Lantzville could begin to take shape by next year, but required land use changes will undoubtedly receive significant local scrutiny.

A series of recent public houses at Lantzville’s Costin Hall outlined proposed sweeping zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) policy changes for an envisioned mixed-use development on 64 acres of primarily undeveloped land bordering Highway 19 and Superior Rd., across the highway from Lantzville’s fire hall.

Initiated by the community’s prior council, backed by the District’s administration, as well as existing land owners, George Robinson, Lantzville’s director of planning and community services, said the existing residential zoning designation would need to be changed to a Regional Service Area.

“It would be light manufacturing, warehouse, office and retail uses. It would allow also intensive retail, so big box stores could be permitted for example,” Robinson told NanaimoNewsNOW at a Thursday, Oct. 23 open house regarding what’s known as the Gee property.

Proposed amenity improvements include roadway enhancements, a five-acre green space corridor surrounding Knarston Creek and waterfall, new public trails, sewer and water services, and a projected one-time community amenity contribution of nearly $2.4 million.

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Rendering of the development peering over Superior Rd. (submitted photo)

Robinson notes various reports, such as engineering, transportation and an economic analysis have been submitted to the District.

The development is estimated to generate more than $1.9 million of the a little over $6 million in local property taxes anticipated in Lantzville when the project is fully built out in 10 years, based on current phasing estimates.

“For a small community of 4,100 to 4,200 people, an additional two million dollars in annual revenue makes a huge difference to the services that the District can provide to our residents,” Robinson said.

As a bedroom community directly beside amenity-heavy service hub Nanaimo, Lantzville’s property tax burden is heavily reliant on residential homeowners.

Robinson said their residential tax class shoulders 94 to 95 per cent of Lantzville’s existing property tax base; stating for many communities, that composition is in the 80/20 range.

The proposal has resulted in significant resistance on community message boards in Lantzville, with the consensus of those opposed concerned about the community’s quaint small town feel being lost.

A vote on second reading of the zoning and OCP proposal could take place by late this year, Robinson said, which would trigger a required public hearing.

“We’re really hoping that if council decides to approve the project and that it moves forward, that we’ll see construction on the water and sewer infrastructure and finalizing engineering by next summer.”

Editors note: NanaimoNewsNOW originally incorrectly reported a reclassified subject property could generate more than $1.9 million of the $4.1 million in local property taxes when the project is fully built out in 10 years, whereas the anticipated property taxation amount is pegged at a little over $6 million, not $4.1 million.

Site of a potential future significant mixed-use development in upper Lantzville between Hwy. 19 and Superior Rd. (Google)

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