A bid to re-zone property near the Englishman River Estuary for an affordable housing complex was rejected by Parksville City Council. (Karen Barry)

By Ian Holmes

shot down

Parksville Council rejects controversial affordable housing proposal

Feb 21, 2020 | 6:50 PM

PARKSVILLE — Efforts to build a controversial affordable housing complex on a south Parksville property were dashed by City Council.

The narrow 4-3 no vote was made at a Wednesday, Feb. 19 council meeting where the fate of establishing upwards of 47 affordable housing units on a 13-acre lot was examined.

Coun. Doug O’Brien voted no and said Parksville is going through a building boom and they need to tread carefully.

“Which is even more reason to respect our OCP, that provides for balanced and planned growth areas, while protecting our environmentally sensitive areas,” O’Brien said.

Several residents slammed the proposal at a January public hearing, denouncing a large development near the wildlife rich Englishman River estuary.

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Mayor Ed Mayne proposed new covenants on the property in a bid to raise support for the required zoning. Such amendments included restricting development to the upper portion of the property and applying a park designation to the balance of the lot.

He rejected the notion 160 Shelly Rd. is too far removed from key services like buses, schools and shopping.

“Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but the closer you get to the amenities the more expensive the real estate becomes and the less affordable the project will be,” Mayne said.

Mayne noted the single-family zoned lot could easily be transformed into a new subdivision with no required public consultation.

It initially appeared the proposed rezoning application would be advanced to a final vote.

Coun. Adam Fras initially abstained from voting on amendments tabled by mayor Ed Mayne.

Abstaining from a vote in Parksville counts as a vote in favour.

Confusion ensued, leading to a second vote where Fras raised his hand in opposition, shooting the proposal down by a 4-3 margin.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes