Williams Lake city council will be holding a special council meeting on July 8 as part of the potential development of a property at 845 Eleventh Avenue.
The location was the site of the Poplar Glade Elementary School, and while the site's redevelopment is only in the initial stages, whatever happens, it would be a multi-million dollar project.
Gary Deane, manager of planning and development for the city, said the goal of the rezoning will be to allow for the current owners to work with the BC Builds program in order to attract a development partner.
The developer would then bring forward a development plan, with Deane expecting a phased approach. He said the rezoning will allow for different possibilities, depending on what the developer envisions and believes the market is looking for, it could be all residential or it could include some smaller commercial spaces as well.
Deane said the BC Builds program has him excited for the possibilities it could bring.
Starting at 6 p.m. the special council meeting will give council the opportunity to add a new zoning option to the city's zoning bylaws, which are currently under review as part of a new official community plan for the city.
The new zoning type will be called neighbourhood mixed-use, or MU-1, and would allow a range of types of residential and commercial buildings, including single family, townhouses, accessory dwelling units, apartments, day cares, retail sales, restaurants, commercial recreational facilities and offices.
On May 27, the new zoning was first read, a public hearing was held and the bylaw was read again in June and this third reading will allow for the adoption of the new zoning into city bylaws.
The neighbourhood mixed-use zoning will then pave the way for a public hearing right after the new bylaw is passed. The public hearing will give the public an opportunity to speak for or against the proposed rezoning of the property at 845 Eleventh Avenue.
Currently, the property is zoned for civic, assembly and institutional use (P-1) and would be amended to become the newly created neighbourhood mixed-use (MU-1).
Williams Lake First Nation will be working with the BC Builds Program in order to streamline the development process, according to their submission to the city. WLFN's letter to the city indicates their intention to develop a mixed-use real estate project "that will provide much-needed residential and commercial space for the residents of Williams Lake and support the attraction of professionals to the region."
Planner Jessica Ball said in her report the lot is currently underutilized and the potential rezoning and development would "further help our housing needs and compliment the direction of the Official Community Plan update."
Residents within 100 metres of the property in question were notified of the proposed rezoning and could provide written or verbal feedback on the proposal in advance. One written comment from a nearby resident inquired as to the potential impact on the Kinsmen Park ball fields. The concern was the ball fields may encroach on the proposed development area. This was based on pacing the site and was not confirmed. The only other comment in the meeting package was a letter of support from the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Planner Nigel Whitehead, noting the advantage to higher density residential and commercial development within the city rather than in rural fringe areas of the CRD.
Poplar Glade Elementary School burned down in 2007.
In 2022, the property was sold by School District #27 to the Williams Lake First Nation.
The Tribune reached out to Williams Lake First Nation for comment on the rezoning and development. The story will be updated if more information is provided prior to the meeting.
