Williams Lake developer Luigi Mandarino is happy city council has approved a development variance for his Mandarino South and Eagle Crescent extension.
Mandarino’s latest venture will allow a minimum setback of 2.2 metres for principal buildings on a lot, in a developing section of Westridge.
“But people shouldn’t get stuck on that,” Mandarino said Wednesday morning at the site. “That 2.2 metre setback is the minimum. The minimum says you can’t be any closer, but you can be farther away.”
There’s a building envelope on each lot and the principal building has to be built inside that envelope. There is flexibility, he added.
Some of the lots are sloped and will require more fill or will drive the decision of where to place a home.
“It’s much more expensive to put in the geotechnical fill. People are going to say they don’t want to spend an extra $20,000 so they will go the other way,” he explained.
There has been criticism that some buyers might place trailers on the lots, which are allowed in a Single Family Residential Zone, however Mandarino said they have to be module homes on a foundation.
“Again, you’ve got to be socially responsible,” he said. “Not everybody can afford a $400,000 home.”
At the regular council meeting Tuesday, Mandarino outlined improvements to the original project application.
He has eliminated three lots from the original proposal.
On the corners of Eagle Crescent and the future Mandarino Place South he has made one lot where there were originally two, for example.
Planning technician Chris Hutton said staff had some reservations about the original corner lots, and wanted to ensure people can see around the corner when they are driving. Mandarino was asked to amend the size of the corner lots.
Mandarino handed council copies of a petition containing 10 signatures from Westridge Drive and one from Ridgeview Place supporting the development variance, and included a photograph showing a two metre setback for a property line on Foster Way that was issued by council in July 2011 and a copy of the improved plan.
Hutton confirmed the city has not received any objections to the application.
Council voted in favour of the development variance. Coun. Danica Hughes was opposed.
Coun. Ivan Bonnell said he was hesitant to support the project, but hoped most people will choose to build further from the minimum setback.