‘The community’s broke:’ developer sounds off after upper Lantzvile rezoning rejected

The resounding 5-0 vote was made following a public hearing.

The area of the proposed development. (Image Credit: District of Lantzville)

Comments in favour referenced the need for an increase in the commercial tax base a development like this would provide, with a zoning designation of Regional Service Zone allowing for commercial and light-industrial developments.

Those against cited environmental, traffic, and public safety concerns, saying it goes against their Official Community Plan (OCP) policies to preserve the community’s “quiet, safe, and rural character setting”, and avoiding the expansion of commercial nodes into “established residential neighbourhoods.”

A letter submitted on behalf of the Snaw-na-as First Nation stated its strongly opposed the rezoning until Council uses “meaningful, government-to-government engagement, consistent with the spirit of our existing relationship and legal obligations.”

Snaw-na-as, as well as other supporters, also mentioned the need for improved water infrastructure in The Winds neighbourhood in upper Lantzville, which the proposed development would have supported, with those residents currently using well water.

Mahlum told NanaimoNewsNOW at this point, there are no imminent or future development proposals coming for the property, and they’ll wait until after this fall’s municipal election to see the composition of Lantzville’s next council.

He said economic impact studies conducted in the past indicated substantial mixed-use development would bring 1,400 jobs and $150M in annual wages and around $2M annually in tax revenue to start, increasing to around $3M in regular property taxes once fully built out.

Mahlum notes Lantzville collects around $4M a year in property taxes.

“That’s the tax revenue that allows the discretionary spending that this community needs and wants. They’re building pathways out of gravel, they’re not doing anything properly because they have no money. The community’s broke.”

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.

Multiple public hearings on the proposed development were held in Lantzville last year. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

He said this isn’t the first time they’ve had a project delayed or shelved in this way.

In 2022, Lantzville Projects sought similar amendments to those on the Superior Rd. property to build 720 homes in a mixed-use development on 60 acres of vacant land straddling Ware Rd. between Hwy 19 and Lantzville Rd., known as the Village South.

A community petition and feedback from a public hearing caused council to put the brakes on advancing the concept, with the lot still undeveloped.

“It is this Council and it’s the same circle of a couple dozen people here who don’t want these things to happen.”

Mahlum said they are not considering a smaller-scale commercial project with housing and no big-box anchor store for the Superior Rd. site, saying a substantial development is required to justify around $30M in off-site servicing work.

“Not even maybe,” he remarked without hesitation.

Mahlum also places blame on the ‘Lantzville Community Hub’ Facebook group, which he said contains “anti-development propaganda”, with Coun. Ian Savage listed as one of two administrators and moderators, with over 8,500 members.

As of 2021, the District of Lantzville’s population was 3,817.

Following the public hearing, Coun. Savage said he understands the need for a big box anchor store from a business sense, but said it was a “bridge too far” for the community, after running his own numbers on the potential tax base increase.

“While this is a good income…the big box (store) is a smaller part of the income, yet it’s causing most of the traffic, which seems to be the common complaint from residents. And while we can use this income, we have to accommodate the very large opposition that we’ve gotten over the last few months. Ignoring this many voices would set a poor precedent.”

Coun. Joan Jones said she doesn’t think this proposal aligns with the OCP.

“In the special planning areas, the intent is to protect the existing character of existing rural areas and established neighbourhoods….another goal of the OCP is to preserve the community character. Again, as a councilor, I have to ask myself, ‘does this application preserve the community character?’ Well, [um, laughs] it’s very difficult to see how it does.”

Jones said Lantzville residents want to see something “unique” built in the area, and not a chain or big box store, saying “we do not want to be another north Nanaimo.”

— with files from Ian Holmes

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by Jordan Davidson

‘The community’s broke:’ developer sounds off after upper Lantzvile rezoning rejected

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