A rezoning application for the previous Leeward Pub on Anderton to amend it to permit a liquor store on the parcel without a pub received the green light from Comox council.
At Wednesday’s (June 3) council meeting, council approved third reading of Comox Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1958 or 651 Anderton Road.
In May, there were no speakers for the public hearing for the application. Earlier in the spring, Coun. Pat McKenna noted while he doesn’t have a concern about the rezoning application made on the property, he is concerned about the building that could continue to go derelict. He added his concern is in the future, the building will collapse over time.
RELATED: Public hearing set for rezoning for Leeward Pub property on Anderton Road
Mayor Russ Arnott noted in a worst-case scenario, the town could look into using the nuisance bylaw.
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Comox council has voted to move forward with their downtown vitalization program for another year, however, they did not include a tax exemption amendment bylaw as part of the program going forward.
The tax exemption amendment bylaw permits certain residential developments in the down a partial tax exemption for up to eight years. Previously, residential developments above three stories in height, with or without ground floor commercial could gain a tax exemption on the value of the residential portion of the building.
Coun. Ken Grant noted the tax exemption bylaw created “a bit of angst from the public” and in light of the fact that almost no developer has taken advantage of the program, he suggested it removing it from the program.
“The real key to all of this is the priority processing; (that’s) what the developers like,” he noted.
Mayor Russ Arnott agreed and said there is an increased vibrancy to Comox’s downtown.
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