Currently, 330 and 338 Ninth St. in south Nanaimo contain at least one house and lots of trees, but a recent successful rezoning application could see several townhouses built over the combined lots. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW) 

By Jordan Davidson

increased density

Rezoning approved for proposed townhouse development along Ninth St. in south Nanaimo

Jun 19, 2024 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — South Nanaimo’s Harewood neighbourhood could be seeing more housing options available after a pair of lots were favoured for rezoning with the goal of increasing housing density.

The connected lots at 330 and 338 Ninth St. were supported to move from single-dwelling residential (R1) to low-density residential with a site-specific density (R6) during the Monday, June 17 regular council meeting.

The proposed plan is for a multi-residential development on the site featuring seven ground-orientated townhouse buildings two to three storeys in height with 34 units in total.

Despite the need for housing locally, residents near the site have expressed concerns including an increase in on-street parking demands, the removal of trees, emergency vehicle access, and multi-storey buildings towering over neighbouring homes.

Longtime Harewood resident Mark Hayman spoke as a delegation to the rezoning application at Monday’s council meeting, expressing his concern about an increase in local vehicle traffic.

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“The traffic in our neighbourhood is already chronic. Bruce Ave. is bumper to bumper today mid-afternoon and it’s always like that. I find many people cutting throughout our neighbourhood down Ninth to reach Tenth, that’s becoming more and more of a problem and there are children on the road constantly and cyclists and dogs.”

Hayman also expressed concerns about amenities in the area such as grocery stores already being pushed to capacity.

A conceptual drawing of what the combined Ninth St. lots could look like with several townhouses on site. (Lovick Scott Architects/City of Nanaimo)

In a question to City staff, Coun. Hilary Eastmure said while she appreciated hearing concerns about the proposed plan, she clarified this is only the first of many steps, with the project facing a design review during the development permit application stage where recommendations could be made.

“We’re just in a rezoning, so we’re not actually considering the form and character and massing of the conceptual plan at all, we’re simply dealing with the bare land.”

Coun. Erin Hemmens admitted these kinds of increased density developments can be “tricky” when introduced into a neighbourhood consisting of mostly single-family homes.

“It is a very walkable neighbourhood, Park Ave. School is right there, Five Acre Farm is right there, access to Tenth Ave. and transit is right there. So acknowledging change is difficult in neighbourhoods but this feels like a good project to me.”

Mayor Leonard Krog said while he’s sympathetic to the people worried about increased density, the reality is Nanaimo’s population is growing, and townhouses are a more affordable option than single-family homes.

“Sharon and I married 50 years ago…we had two kids, and then our two kids married…between our two kids, they had five children. So the two have become nine. That’s not anyone immigrating into Nanaimo, that’s no other way that the population is increasing, but it is a reality of increasing population.”

Council approved the first three readings of the rezoning bylaw unanimously.

It’s not confirmed whether the proposed townhouses would be available for rent or to own.

Development and building permits are required before shovels can get in the ground.

A proposed plan for the two combined lots at 330 and 338 Ninth St. could see several townhouse buildings constructed between two and three storeys, with 34 units in total. (City of Nanaimo)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow