A new public hearing will be held about a revised design for a housing proposal at 2700 Mission Rd., in the vicinity of the hospital, North Island College and Queneesh Elementary.
Courtenay council had approved second reading last September, but postponed third reading in an effort to alleviate concerns from neighbours.
READ: Courtenay housing proposal stalls at third reading
Council directed staff to have the applicant, OrrMoniz Projects Corp. of Vancouver, revise the plans to reduce the scale and density of the development, particularly in relation to a 72-unit apartment building. Some have expressed a desire to increass the number of larger two- and three-bedroom units. Staff also note requests for a reduced building mass by breaking the apartment into separate components or smaller buildings. There was also discussion about increasing the amount of greenspace for residents and the public.
“I believe it (revised design) responds well to those requests,” director of development services Ian Buck said at the March 15 council meeting.
The overall unit count has been reduced from 137 to 104 units. The 72-unit, three-storey apartment has been replaced by a smaller 36-unit, four-storey apartment, and eight new three-bedroom townhouse units in two buildings.
Buck said the new design will carry a much smaller footprint. He also notes the city has a shortage of townhouse-style, family-oriented units that are more affordable than a typical single family home.
Another modification concerns the affordable housing building, which has increased from 37 to 40 units.
Council agreed the revised design is a fair compromise.
Stay tuned for a public hearing date.