A plan for a three-storey mixed-use building on Shenton Rd on the north side of Nanaimo's Diver Lake has been approved by the design advisory panel with a number of recommendations. (City of Nanaimo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

design advisory panel

Revised designs envision apartments, offices overlooking Nanaimo’s Diver Lake

Oct 25, 2025 | 10:27 AM

NANAIMO — A three-storey building on Diver Lake mixing residential units with office space is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Located on the lake’s north side on a currently vacant lot at 3679 Shenton Rd, the proposal is for a three-storey mixed-use building with office space on the ground floor and 17 residential units above it, with studio, one and two-bedroom apartments.

The plan was presented at the Thursday, Oct. 23 Design Advisory Panel (DAP) meeting, for recommendations on its form and character, with board member Angie Boileau appreciating how well the design fits the area.

“It really complements the buildings that are already there. Kind of ties into elements of some of the industrial stuff down the way and also the more natural-looking buildings. Fits really well and it looks really natural with the lake there…I think that’s really important.”

More renderings showing various sides of the proposed building at 3679 Shenton Rd. (City of Nanaimo)

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The site was purchased by Windley Contracting Ltd, whose head office is located west of 3679 Shenton Rd. to build new offices to accommodate their growing staff.

The developers requested several variances, including reducing the number of off-street parking spaces from the required 71 to 51, with a portion of parking within the maximum front yard setback area.

Underbuilding parking will be provided for vehicles, as well as long-term bicycle parking.

Other variances include an increase in building height from 14 to 15 metres, an increase in the accessory building height to 5.7 metres, doubling the front yard setback to two metres for an entry canopy, and increasing the maximum gross ground floor by 43 square metres to allow an additional storey for a portion of the office space.

DAP members voted to approve the variances and 13 recommendations for the developers to consider, including more short and long-term bicycle parking, an amenity space on the roof deck while also making it green, retaining mature trees and adding more vegetation, connecting paths from the front entrance, and bird-friendly window glaze.

The project still needs to come before City Council at a future date to have a development permit approved.

A plan for a nearly 70-room lakefront hotel at the same location was proposed a few years ago, but didn’t come to fruition.

An aerial shot showing the lot which stretches towards Diver’s Lake, close to the E&N Trail and the Island Hwy. (City of Nanaimo)

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