The public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on a proposed three-building, five-story apartment complex on Ryan Road in Courtenay.
At the Oct. 4 Courtenay council meeting, councillors unanimously approved first and second reading for a Broadstreet Properties/Seymour Pacific Developments proposal for nearly 250 new apartment units, triggering a public hearing.
In early September, the developer originally presented the project to council with a mix of 247 one, two and three-bedroom units.
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The development is proposed at 801 Ryan Road and would include an extension to Tunner Road from its current terminus at Hunt Road to the end of the parcel in order to offer an alternative route from Ryan Road.
Originally, the proponents offered $123,500 to the city’s affordable housing amenity reserve fund.
While councillors agreed rental housing – particularly three-bedroom units – is desperately needed in the area, some questioned rental rates and the contribution to the affordable housing fund.
“The contribution will be the minimum that would be required,” noted Coun. Will Cole-Hamiton at the time. “Given the real lack of affordable housing, probably more residents would expect from this development that there would be some affordable units within the development.”
One-bedroom units would likely rent for around $1,500, while a three-bedroom, two-bath unit would be around $1,900.
Council asked for city staff and the developer to further conversations and Broadstreet returned to Monday’s council with a revised proposal of 10 per cent (25 units) st at 30 per cent of the housing income limit (set by BC Housing) to last for 10 years. They also offered to increase the size of the green space, a fenced dog run and seating area.
Thirteen parking stalls were removed from the original design in order to reconfigure the green space and to offer a larger area for rainwater gardens and stormwater management.
Coun. Doug Hillian confirmed the 25 affordable housing units would be offered instead of the cash offer to the city’s affordable housing amenity reserve fund.
He also inquired about the decrease in parking spots and if the lower amount would impact potential residents.
“Based on our own internal parking statistics and demand, we would need 1.1 to 1.2 stalls per unit,” explained Rachel Ricard, development manager for Broadstreet Properties. “At 300 stalls, it works out to 1.21 stalls per unit with 247 units. We’re confident this site isn’t under-parked.”
Acting mayor Will Cole-Hamilton noted if approved the one-bedroom affordable units would rent for $987 a month; two-bedroom units would rent for $1,225 a month.
The motion to approve first and second reading was unanimously approved (Coun. Melanie McCollum and Mayor Bob Wells were not present at the council meeting.)
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