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Largest parkland donation in B.C. since 2009 as The Foothills plans to transfer 730-acres to Lantzville

Aug 1, 2018 | 10:46 AM

LANTZVILLE — The Foothills, a 1,838-acre master-planned community, located in Lantzville and minutes from Nanaimo, will be donating 730-acres of private land to the District of Lantzville and Regional District of Nanaimo to serve as public park space.

At 730-acres, the park is the largest land donation in British Columbia since 2009 when Skaha Bluff was donated to the provincial government. In comparison, Stanley Park in Vancouver is 1,001 acres. The area offers hiking trails, mountain biking trails, rock climbing and amazing views of the Strait of Georgia.

Residents can explore bluffs, gullies, forests, rocks, cliffs, high country marshes, viewpoints, creeks, and a diversity of vegetation from fern-filled rainforest canyons to dry viewpoints with natural Arbutus trees.

“The Foothills, as the highlands in Lantzville, is a gateway to numerous recreational experiences,” Allard Ockeloen, chief executive officer with Lone Tree Properties Ltd. said. “It’s an outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise.”

The Foothills proposed land donation will take place in November 2018 and will be the largest park in the Nanaimo area. The land will be dedicated as District lands with park zoning. The District will manage the land in conjunction with its parks and recreation commission.

In conjunction with the land donation, the development has sold over $20 million in home sites with 75 homes soon to be under development. Lone Tree Properties are underway with a $15 million civil construction project which is nearing completion on infrastructure and roads to service the local area and the first phase of home sites.

“We are creating a community that represents the best aspects of this beautiful area,” Ockeloen said. “We want to offer the opportunity to live next to a natural sanctuary, a recreational destination park the whole community can enjoy forever.”

The Foothills master-planned community at full build-out will comprise of 730 homes and a mixed-use village in upper Lantzville.

The Foothills is releasing the next 26 premium view home sites in Broad Ridge Pass.

Homeowners will find the best of Island living, including outdoor experiences, food, education, arts and culture. Designed to foster a broad range of social interactions and vibrancy, the beauty of the landscape will be preserved, and will provide a memorable island setting for all stages of life.

In order to preserve the beauty of the land extensive environmental studies have been conducted to determine where the development interacts with sensitive areas and what the best practices are to ensure minimal impact. Construction is being conducted carefully and will progress gradually, over 10-to-15 years, in order to avoid major impacts on community members.

Homes in the first phase are located on the north area of the site, closest to the existing neighbourhoods in Lantzville. They are expected to be family oriented with spectacular views. Residential home site prices range from $250,000 to over $600,000 with the majority of home sites being in the high $300,000 to low $400,000 range.

You can get more information on The Foothills here.