The site for his proposed 100 to 200-unit development of high-end condominiums may well sit in the agricultural land reserve, but Zweitse de Wit says there would be more food grown on it than ever before, if it gets the green light.
Located on land at Berwick and Fern avenues in Qualicum Beach, the land currently sits fallow and about the only food grown on it now is blackberries and the odd thistle.
Speaking at an open house at his home on Berwick Avenue Wednesday, de Wit cited his own extensive garden as an example of what can be done with the 21.5-acre property.
“With raised beds one could put more agricultural production on this land then there ever has been before,” he said. “There would be fruit trees in the boulevards and berry bushes, blueberries, raspberries and herbs and other edible things that are still attractive from an ornamental point of view.”
The concept, he said, comes from noted New York designer Randall Arendt, who pushes developments that are much more environmentally friendly than the norm.
“The intention of the project, as per Randall, is to have small laneways, with trees abutting the driving spaces and homes with small front and rear yards,” de Wit said. “The residual space would be for common use. By making homes that are a little smaller, it provides more space that can be used as a common area and managed by a communal gardener.”
These homes, he said, won’t come cheap, with the low end starting at $350,000 and most units in the $500,000 to $550,000 range.
Also in Arendt’s vision, he said, would be scooter paths and other amenities that would encourage people to walk or otherwise access the downtown core without the use of automobiles.
“We are within five minutes walking distance from the town and we can meet all the goals of the sustainability document,” de Wit said. “The only exception to that is that we are in the ALR, but we feel we can produce more food here with this than the way it is now.”
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