Williams Lake city council moved ahead on two bylaws to allow rezoning a property for development without the covenant recommended by staff.
A public hearing on Dec. 3 at city hall on the rezoning included questions and comments from two nearby property owners as council considered the application to rezone 1138 Lakeview Crescent.
The property owner applied for the rezoning to provide someone else the opportunity to develop it. While the applicant included a proposal for a 14-unit apartment building, the applicant would not be doing the development.
The rezoning would actually allow for as many as 70 units to be built on this size of lot. City staff had recommended city council put a covenant in place so any future developer would need to bring their proposal back to council. The covenant could be removed if the future owners/builder provide council an updated servicing plan demonstrating the property can support additional units and allow an additional opportunity for the public and council to speak on and evaluate the proposed development.
Two people spoke during the public hearing, asking questions around the height of the potential building, what setback would be required for an apartment building and possible traffic implications. Written submissions were also received regarding the rezoning expressing concerns for privacy, character of the neighbourhood and the removal of trees.
John Dell, who lives nearby, said he was not opposed to the rezoning, but did express concern for the intersection of Highway 97 and Broadway Avenue if the development was to be larger than the draft 14-unit proposal.
"It's a problem right now," he said, of the intersection, and said while a 14-unit building would probably be absorbed, a much larger one could cause more traffic issues at the busy intersection. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure expressed no concerns in their emailed response to the rezoning application.
All of council present at the meeting supported the rezoning passing third reading, when council voted on the item during their regular meeting on Dec. 3.
The vote to include the recommended covenant failed with a vote of two-two. Acting mayor Joan Flaspohler and Coun. Michael Moses, voted in support of staff's recommendation to place a covenant on the rezoned property limiting the density to 14 units, which council could then remove subject to updated servicing plans. Coun. Sheila Boehm and Coun. Scott Nelson voted against including the covenant.
Staff now forward the zoning amendment bylaw to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval before the final adoption of the bylaws at a future meeting.
Coun. Jazmyn Lyons, Coun. Angie Delainey and Mayor Surinderpal Rathor were absent from the meeting.
