Artist rendering of what a development at 440 Island Hwy. W, just north of Parksville's downtown core will look like, after it had a development permit which previously lapsed reissued. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)

By Jordan Davidson

development permit reissued

Permit renewed for downtown Parksville condo development

Jan 24, 2026 | 5:53 AM

PARKSVILLE — Plans to put condos on an undeveloped lot near downtown Parksville are in the works once again.

A development permit was reissued for a currently vacant lot at 440 Island Hwy. W, just north of downtown, to build a five-storey residential building on the southern part of the lot with 79 residential units.

During the Monday, Jan. 19 council meeting, Mayor Doug O’Brien said he’s excited to see this project become a reality.

“Especially for all of the work that went into preserving and daylighting that waterway through it, so I’m impressed with the amount of work they had to do…anytime you’re dealing with something like that, the biological concerns are huge.”

A development permit was previously issued for this project in 2023, but it expired after two years, with no exact reasons given.

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The project remains largely the same with the reissuance, which was approved unanimously.

Artist rendering of what a development at 440 Island Hwy. W just north of Parksville’s downtown core will look like. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)

Counc. Joel Grenz also spoke favourably about the project, and said development permits lapsing might become a more common occurance, with at least two others expiring or being reissued last year.

“I think with the economic uncertainty that we’re seeing now and the reduction in immigration to Canada, that we’ll likely see more development application permits lapsing, and a slowdown in construction across Canada is quite likely. Hopefully this one does proceed because it would be nice to have that creek daylighting happen there.”

The building will have 20 one-bedroom units and 59 two-bedroom units and 99 parking spaces, 80 of which are in the underground parkade and are EV receptacle charger-ready.

The plans also include an increase in the maximum building height from 11 metres to 12.58, as well as a reduction in the minimum building setbacks on the southern lots from 6 metres to 1.37 to facilitate the underground parkade and access ramp.

Also approved was a small increase to the allowable heights for a retaining wall from 1 metre to 1.25, and the combined height of a retaining wall and fence from 2 metres to 2.45.

A landscape security deposit of over $383,000 has also been secured, with plans to include over 100 newly planted native and drought-tolerant plants and trees.

During the original project presentation in 2023, the developer, Garwin Wuerch with Radcliffe Development Corp., said a pedestrian pathway connecting to Mark’s Nature Park and Hwy. 19 will be included, while the stormwater channel running through the property will be relocated.

Wuerch said the development will include various environmentally sustainable features, anti-crime elements, flood reduction measures, and lighting which complies with Dark Sky guidelines.

Radcliffe Development Corp. also built multi-family developments in Parksville at 100 Lombardy St. and Stone’s Throw on McVickers St.

A development permit for 440 Island Hwy. W. was previously awarded where councillors provided similair designation for a substantial 116-unit multi-family residential project on Wembley Rd. at Church Rd.

— with files from Alex Rawnsley.

Aerial view of the development site, located across the street from Bayside Oceanfront Resort and east of Mark’s Nature Park. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)

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