A handful of residents brought their concerns to Parksville council regarding two bylaws to allow for a proposed mixed commercial residential development at the Wembley Mall.
Increased traffic, parking issues and the future of frogs inhabiting the future development area were all topics raised by residents during the public hearing on April 7.
The proposed five-storey building's preliminary design shows 70 residential units, with retail space on the ground floor. The units will include 33 one-bedroom plus den units, eight two-bedroom units, 26 two-bedrooms plus den units and three three-bedroom units.
Traffic was the most common concern brought up at the public hearing.
Dave MacLaggan, who mentioned he lived approximately 200 metres away from the development area, said he believes there are errors in the traffic study because it was completed based on pandemic-level volume during 2021 and 2022, with an upward adjustment of six per cent.
He brought a petition with signatures from 46 property owners who live close by and are opposed to the proposed building.
“We are requesting that city council stay the development at 806 Island Hwy W until a more accurate traffic impact assessment has been conducted,” MacLaggan added.
The traffic impact assessment concluded the development will not trigger the need for road improvements, as it only concerns the south side of the property. It also said an extension of Stanhope Road is "assumed to occur when the north site develops".
The project was first presented to council back in 2023 and since then the project has been scaled back and no longer includes the north side.
MacLaggan was one of six speakers at the public hearing, with five of the six speakers opposed.
Council also received five submissions, with four people in opposition and none in support, according to Amanda Weekes, manager of administrative services and corporate officer, who clarified that duplicate submissions from the same person are only counted once.
The zoning amendment bylaw, if approved, will allow for residential use at Wembley Mall by creating a "sub-zone" for the new building.
The OCP does envision residential for the site, so the project requires an OCP amendment because of a provision meant to encourage downtown revitalization and give it a “head start” in terms of multi-family developments.
City staff feels the majority of existing multi-unit residential lands, including those in the downtown, have been developed, according to a report by Blaine Russell, director of planning and building.
A third reading would typically be scheduled for the next council meeting following the public hearing, according to Deb Tardiff, manager of communications.
