A developer is looking to build a mixed commercial and residential development which could include a large grocery on Resort Drive in Parksville.
Primex Investments is seeking a minor amendment to allow the subdivision of a large parcel of land at 1180 Resort Dr., adjacent to the Island Highway.
Construction on a three-building rental complex is already underway, and this proposed addition, still in the concept stage, would be built close by.
The amendment is requesting the density be calculated based on the total area of the entire site, rather than the area of land within the parcel, according to a presentation by Echo Ren of Primex Investments Ltd.
Primex also wants to be able to build a larger commercial space than the zoning currently allows.
“We are also envisioning three buildings on the future phase here, with two buildings of mixed use, retail upgrade and residential on the second and third level as well as a grocery market at the end of the lot,” Ren said during council's May 21 meeting.
Several councillors said they were concerned that a major grocery store could have a negative impact on downtown businesses and other existing grocery stores in town.
"This development will likely — is going to create a new commercial node," said Coun. Amit Gaur. "My concern is the impact of that new created commercial node on our downtown businesses.”
Coun. Mary Beil said the proposal would see the allowable size increase from 600 square metres to 1,700 square metres.
“Quite frankly I don’t see the need for a larger store in this area to fit in with the tourist designation, tourist commercial,” she noted.
The grocery store size provision is not a density parameter, according to Blaine Russell, director of community planning and building for the city, who added it is comparable to a siting parameter like building setbacks. Council can adjust for it later in the process, without changing a resolution about the site density.
Traffic heading over the Orange Bridge could be alleviated, Mayor Doug O'Brien pointed out, if people don't need to cross it to reach a grocery store.
Coun. Joel Grenz said many of the vehicles crossing be people living in Nanoose Bay, who could also save themselves the trip over the bridge.
“That area is actually one of the fastest-growing areas in the regional district,” Grenz added. “We’ve heard a lot of engagement about Parksville’s traffic over the Orange Bridge, but there’s a lot of traffic that’s outside of the boundary of Parksville that would actually be going over there.”
Ideally, Grenz would like to see a shopping development that is more tourist friendly and European-style, with a number of smaller retailers like a bakery for example — within walking distance of nearby resorts.
“I like that concept,” O'Brien said, and added there will be opportunities to influence the developer in that direction later in the process.
Council voted to give first reading to the zoning and development amendment bylaw that will accommodate Primex's request for the change to density calculation which will allow a future subdivision of the property.
Council also voted to have the property owners provide an opportunity for public engagement.
“I see this as our opportunity to have more of a say in what the future of this will look like," Grenz said. "If we turn it down and have no public engagement and none of that, then it will be up to the developer to do whatever they can do within the current zoning. This way we can actually have that conversation.”
