The rezoning of the former Poplar Glade school site at 845 11th Avenue received support from city council at the regular meeting May 27.
Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) asked the city to rezone the property on the First Nation's behalf from the current zoning of civic, industrial to a comprehensive development zone. The city-led rezoning instead recommended a zoning designation of neighbourhood mixed-use. The city is currently in the process of updating their zoning bylaws and official community plan.
Neighbourhood mixed-use could allow for the following on the property:
- Single-family Residential
- Multi-family Residential
- Accessory Dwelling Units
- Secondary Suites
- Townhouse (up to four units)
- Apartment (four units and greater)
- Home Occupation
- Family Day Care
- Office Use
- Restaurant
- Commercial Recreation Facility
- Personal Services
- Accessory Use
Buildings could be a maximum of 20 metres tall and no more than six stories high under the new zoning designation.
Council members were enthusiastic about the possibility of the property being developed.
"This is the cooperation, collaboration I want," said Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, who personally thanked Kukpi7 Willie Sellars and WLFN. Rathor said the development of the property shows confidence in the community.
Other council members also spoke, with Coun. Scott Nelson calling it a "great move forward."
Coun. Joan Flaspohler said the application for a mixed use development could help to create a more walkable neighbourhood, supporting seniors and the neighbourhood by increasing local amenities.
The city does not yet have a final site layout for the proposed development and staff recommended notifying the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, the Cariboo Regional District and School District #27 prior to the public hearing so they could all have an opportunity to comment.
According to the report to council by Jessica Ball, city planner, WLFN will be working with the BC Builds Program to develop the property.
BC Builds partners with organizations to provide low-interest repayable loans and grants in order to lower construction costs and speed up timelines. Ball's report states the timelines with BC Builds from concept to construction are 12 to 18 months, versus what normally takes three to five years.
Her report recommended council approve the rezoning and noted the city's Housing Needs Report in 2024 estimates the city will need as many as 1,547 housing units over the next 20 years, and estimates 508 of those are needed within the next five years.
WLFN purchased the property from School District #27 in 2022.
In a letter to Gary Deane, the city's manager of planning and development, Kourteney Cook, chief administrative officer for WLFN, requested the city initiate and undertake the rezoning on behalf of WLFN. In the letter, Cook said WLFN acquired the property to develop a mixed-use real estate project to provide "much needed residential and commercial space for the residents of Williams Lake and support the attraction of professionals to the region."
The property used to be the location of Poplar Glade Elementary School, but the school burned down in April of 2007. It had been scheduled to close in 2008.
A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on June 24, 2025 prior to the regular council meeting for community members ot voice any concerns they may have about the rezoning application and the rezoning could be adopted by July 15, 2025.
