A plan for a five-storey mostly residential development in Vic West has cleared its first hurdle.
The proposal would see 1055 Alston St., zoned for light industrial use, rezoned to permit 56 residential units and a single industrial unit to be accessed from Tyee Road.
Victoria council voted 5-4 in favour of allowing the rezoning application to proceed, provided it’s passed through the city’s advisory design panel.
A building currently on the site is being used as an office.
Council members were split between those who want the project to get direction from the advisory design panel and others who preferred that it be expedited. Coun. Marg Gardiner said the project is complex and is trying to fit a lot onto a small site, so it would benefit from a review by the advisory design panel. But Coun. Matt Dell said delays can cost developers hundreds of thousands of dollars, which gets added to sale prices and contributes to lack of affordable housing.
In its submission to council, the Vic West Community Association land-use committee raised concerns about the height of the proposed building, lack of green space in the area and lack of parking for both residents and the business unit.
City staff said having the project go through the advisory design panel, which meets once a month, would mean a delay of one or two months, then possible revisions and new plans that could lead to further delays.
The best estimate is the project would be back at council later in the year.
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
