Birds-eye view of a zoning change proposal for Parksville's Wembley Mall (City of Parksville)

By Ian Holmes

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Jan 22, 2025 | 5:36 AM

PARKSVILLE — Many more details need to be ironed out, however members of Parksville City Council appear to be on board with adjusting the use of the Wembley Mall property.

Mall proponents, Parksville Properties Corp. aim to re-zone the property to allow for a mix use development on a vacant area at the lots southern edge near the BC Liquor building adjacent to Wembley Rd.

Four stories of multi-family housing and ground-floor of commercial usage is sought.

Existing zoning does not allow for residential usage.

Councillors elected to advance the proposal past the first hearing stage after signing off on Official Community Plan and zoning amendment votes, with only coun. Amit Gaur opposed.

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Mayor Doug O’Brien and coun. Adam Fras were both absent from the Monday, Jan. 20 council meeting.

A public hearing would be triggered should the land use application proceed past second reading.

It’s unknown when the public would potentially have the opportunity to speak to the proposed zoning changes for the site.

Rendering of a potential future mixed use building at Wembley Mall in Parksville (City of Parksville)

While councillors raised varying opinions of the vision, City of Parksville director of community planning and building Blaine Russell reminded council that a detailed application has not yet been made.

“As far as what can be addressed through the rezoning process specifically, they’re really things like use, density, setbacks, height,” Russell said.

Existing zoning allows for a maximum 11-metre structure height on the 25 acre property, according to the City of Parksville.

The proponent is after an amendment for a maximum of 20 meters of height on the Wembley Mall property, with the housing plan at this point anticipating 70 residential units at this point, Russell stated.

Telling the meeting he supports residential usage at Wembley Mall, Coun. Joel Grenz said the property will become an increasingly vital urban node which the City has high hopes for.

“Which is something that is very livable, that still has a lot of green to it with lots of trees and plants and that it has opportunities for community gathering and a place to spend time and not just a parking lot.”

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