A four-storey building with a commercial ground floor and residential units on top is in the works along the Alberni Hwy. in Parksville, which could see a section of Despard Ave. W permanently closed. (City of Parksville)

By Jordan Davidson

homes and businesses

Partial road closure in mind for planned Parksville mixed-use development

Dec 5, 2025 | 4:07 PM

PARKSVILLE — Another mixed-use multi-storey building is being envisioned heading into Parksville off the Inland Island Hwy.

A zoning and development bylaw amendment application for the lot at 423 Alberni Hwy. was presented to Council on Monday, Dec. 1, to eventually build a four-storey building with commercial space on the ground floor and residential units above.

Also approved during the same meeting was the consideration to allow the permanent closure of a portion of Despard Ave. W, directly north of the property.

If ultimately approved, the road closure would allow 20 residential units on-site, up from 12 without the road closure.

It would reduce the width of the road right-of-way from 51.5 metres to 40 metres, with a reduction in the boulevard width from 35 metres to 23.5 metres, or approximately 1/3 of the surplus road.

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According to the City report, the section of Despard Ave. W. in question has more land allocated to it than needed for future expansion, plans which were made redundant once the Inland Island Hwy. was built.

Council is considering the permanent closure and removal of a portion of Despard Ave. W. adjacent to 423 Alberni Hwy. in order for a nearby mixed-use proposal can go from 12 residential units to 20. (Google Maps)

A value of $360,000 for the land making up the proposed road closure will also be considered in principle, money which will go towards the City’s land sales reserve.

If zoning changes are ultimately approved, the lot would change from Agriculture A-1 to a new comprehensive development zone, allowing it to be developed as a commercial or mixed-use commercial/residential development.

The commercial aspect of this designation excludes drive-through restaurants and cafe uses, with the developer planning the space for medical/dental offices.

Once all legislated notice requirements are met, the first reading of the amended zoning, development, and road closure bylaws will be on a future Council meeting agenda for consideration.

The proposed building would be located across from another mixed-use development, opposite Quality Foods, approved last year.

While still at the rezoning stage, building and site designs and renderings like this serve as proof of concept only, with details subject to change in subsequent development and building permit applications. (City of Parksville)

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