Some Vancouver developers are hoping to build a multi-phased commercial and residential development in Williams Lake at 1075 Prosperity Way on 60.9 acres of vacant land next to the shopping centre.
During the regular meeting Tuesday, May 16, city council unanimously gave first reading to a report from city planner Jessica Ball recommending the city accept an application from the developer to change a zoning bylaw and part of the city’s official community plan to allow for the development.
The next step will be to ask the applicant for a servicing plan, a geotechnical report because the subject property is located in a geotechnical hazardous area as indicated in the official community plan, a wildfire interface report and traffic study.
An open house will also be held with the applicant for public consultation, as well as notice for consultation with the School District 27 board, Cariboo Regional District, Williams Lake First Nation and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The developers Gordon Zhao, Qing Wang and Ruby Chang attended the council meeting Tuesday evening.
Zhao told the Tribune they have been pursuing the proposal in Williams Lake for about three years.
“We have a similar project getting started in Vernon that has 32 townhouses and 49 single homes,” he said.
During the meeting, Coun. Scott Nelson said there has been a lot of work done to get their application to this point.
“It is a wild and majestic project on potential development on the west side,” he said as he thanked the proponent for wanting to invest in Williams Lake.
Coun. Joan Flaspohler thanked staff for the report and encouraged the community to look at the city’s website to see the aspects of the proposed development.
”If we can have a development here that can assist us in growth it is wonderful,” Flaspohler said.
Coun. Jazmyn Lyons said she was very happy to go through the report.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor thanked staff for the work on the application and the proponent for feeling comfortable to invest in Williams Lake.
Ball’s report noted the subject property is zoned as Acreage Reserve (A-1), General Industrial (M-2) and Comprehensive Development (CD-15), and the applicant is seeking a zoning amendment to Two-Family Residential (R-2), Low-Density Multiple Family Residential (R-3) and Neighbourhood Commercial (C-2) zones.
monica.lamb-yorski@wltribune.com
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