A two-acre waterfront property on Hart Road is slated for redevelopment, and council members were given two options of what the development will look like.

At a View Royal council meeting on Tuesday, May 7, council members and the consulting land-use planner discussed the possible options for either townhomes or small-scale apartments on the property.

B次元官网网址淚ndividually theyB次元官网网址檙e kind of odd-shaped lots but when you look at it collectively and look at some of the characteristics of it, the thought process was that maybe we should be looking at this a little different than simply a single, detached lot subdivision,B次元官网网址� said Dean Strongitharm, a land-use planner that was representing the owners of the property.

The property is 2.3 acres and spans over four lots that are currently zoned for detached single-family dwellings.

The first option council members looked at was a option for 24 townhouses with about a third of the property, toward the waterfront, being dedicated to conservation or parkland areas.

The second option, which Strongitharm said makes the most sense from a planning perspective, would offer six townhouses toward the waterfront and a four-storey apartment building with 32 units toward Hart Road. It would be over 60 per cent open space and would offer a park and pathways to the water.

Coun. Gery Lemon called it a B次元官网网址渄elicious siteB次元官网网址� and she especially liked how the site preserved the natural area towards the foreshore. Coun. John Rogers agreed and said although there is a park in the same block, it is mostly marshland and there are steep edges. He also said he would hope to see a public paddling dock on the site as well.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to see some townhouse developments because I think that we [lack] the B次元官网网址榤issing middle,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Don Brown. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 see that kind of development and for smaller families, rather than single- family condos, I think itB次元官网网址檚 great. The plan looks awesome, itB次元官网网址檚 a really nice piece of property.B次元官网网址�

Coun. Alison MacKenzie said she previously visited the site and she was concerned about preserving the trees, but she felt satisfied that the developers have planned well around that. She also said she agreed with Brown that View Royal needs more townhomes.

B次元官网网址淭his is a parcel of land that has been vacant for many years. I welcome the prospect of dwelling options for future homeowners or renters in the Town of View Royal. Given that this process is in its infancy, we will want to hear from residents, staff, and environmental experts as we move forward,B次元官网网址� noted Coun. Damian Kowalewich in an email.

Mayor Sid Tobias recommended that the proponent bring the idea back to council and ask for a permit at a later committee of the whole meeting.

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