Skip to content

Strong turnout for Colwood’s first advisory planning commission meeting

More than 100 residents packed council chambers to voice opinion on controversial development
9316343_web1_171115-GNG-Advisorycommission1
Colwood Coun. Gordie Logan (second from right) said it was “heartening” to see the more than 100 residents pack the council chambers during the city’s inaugural Advisory Planning Commission meeting last week. (Gazette file photo)

When Colwood Coun. Gordie Logan walked into the City’s inaugural Advisory Planning Commission (APC) meeting last week, he knew there would be a lot of residents. But just how many turned up was a surprise.

More than 100 people packed the council chambers to voice their opinion on a rezoning application for 291 Daniel Pl. and 3362 Hatley Dr.

The proposed development would see the construction of five six-storey condominium apartment buildings for a total of 204 units and 304 parking spaces on the 3.6-acre site.

Developer de Hoog and Kierulf Architects propose to have the six-phase development completed by 2041.

But many residents were unhappy with the proposal and during the meeting voiced concerns about the density of the project, the impact on what they feel is a close-knit community and the potential loss of that community feeling.

Others also raised concerns about safety issues that such density brings to the neighbourhood, as well as the 24 years the project would be built out.

“It was a prolonged amount of time and the community interpreted it as a prolonged length of disruption,” said Logan, who is the council liaison to the commission.

In the end, the commission recommend denying the application to council. The application will go to council in the coming weeks.

The development was the first to go through the City’s newly-created advisory planning commission.

The commission reviews development applications and provides advice and recommendations to council.

It is comprised of nine community members who represent aspects of the community, including education, environment, land development, business, youth, seniors, architecture or landscape architecture, as well as two members at large.

Prior to the commission, development applications went through the City’s planning and land use committee, which comprised of two residents and two council members. But as part of the new commission, council representatives do not vote on applications and are only there to listen to dialogue and provide guidance when needed.

“Given the broad set of skill sets on the APC, I think Colwood residents can take comfort that any development applications will be given a great deal of thought and with a recommendation to council that has been thoroughly debated,” Logan said.

The commission meets the second Wednesday of the month at city hall. For more information visit colwood.ca.


Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com