Two highly publicized developments have officially been approved by Colwood council.
The more contentious of the two, an apartment complex at 3320 Metchosin Rd. and nine single-family dwellings at 3319 Painter Rd., was one of two projects given fourth reading by council at their Monday-night meeting.
“I’m not that opposed to the two apartment buildings, but the nine lots on Painter is way too many, too many driveways. It’s going to be a real congested area,” Chris Waters said upon hearing the news. He lives at the corner of Painter and Tipton roads adjacent to the lots to be developed.
The additional vehicle access points onto Painter Road will make the situation “crazy,” he said. The proposed development even caused one of his neighbours, a vocal opponent of the development, to move out of town, said Waters.
He has owned his house for more than 40 years and was there when the former Pilgrim United Church was built on the property. Plans are to tear it down.
“I’m just worried how it affects all the boulevard parking. I don’t want to come home and see cars all over my boulevard,” he said. “It’s really going to affect the neighbourhood, but they bought the property and committed to building this stuff.”
While admitting the developers, Genco Construction Ltd. and Fairwest Construction Co. Ltd., have built quality projects and the apartment buildings will fit in nicely, he stressed that the number of single family homes planned for that section of land is too much density for its size.
Public input into the developments was mixed in the leadup to Monday’s decision, with many area residents speaking to potential traffic congestion and safety concerns. The properties are near Sangster elementary and Dunsmuir middle school.
Coun. Gordie Logan, who has a child attending Dunsmuir, told the Gazette the project will bring the right mix of amenities, along with affordable rental accommodation in the area.
“This project is a good fit in the neighbourhood that will bring much-needed improvements, such as sidewalks,” he said, “and will maintain a key pedestrian corridor through the property, especially for the kids going to Sangster.”
With rental housing a key component of the project, it will bring a new mix to that part of the city, he added.
The less controversial Pacific Landing, a six-phase development on the Havenwood property along Esquimalt Lagoon featuring 33 condominiums in three low-rise buildings, was the other major project moved forward by council.
“This project allows for the start of some much-needed safety improvements along Heatherbell Road, something that the neighbourhood has been pushing for,” Logan said. “The mix of housing, with the prospect of a hotel, brings renewed excitement to the site. Residents from all over have taken a keen interest in the location, taking advantage of its natural beauty, and people will still be able to do that.”
The property is home to the historic Pendray House, which until last month housed the Coast Collective Arts Centre.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com