An Official Community Plan (OCP) review slated to kick off Feb. 3 may be an important step toward a major development in Deep Bay.
Baynes Sound Investment’s (BSI) Amar Bains said the company will “absolutely” attend some of the upcoming public meetings and working group sessions hosted by the Regional District of Nanaimo to develop the future of the quaint community north of Parksville.
“We will be present as a landowner,” said Bains. “We have a vested interest.”
BSI, a Surrey-based development company, owns a 341 acre property in the heart of Deep Bay best known in the area for a failed development application which would have seen 200 single-family homes, a 292-unit RV park, retail/commercial space and 40 hectares of park space.
In 2013, the project was unanimously voted down by RDN board members as the proposal required significant changes to the official community plan and regional growth strategy.
Now that the OCP for Deep Bay/Bowser is being reviewed, it may be an opportunity for the development company to put forward a successful proposal to the RDN.
“Whatever happens will affect us big time,” said Bains.
In May of 2014, BSI went back to the drawing board hosting a three-day meeting with residents in the area asking them what they want to see the company develop in their community.
Bains said that meeting was “quite positive” and included community stakeholders from all walks of life. In the end, a vision was born based on feedback.
At the time, Baines told The NEWS the new project may include lodge accommodations, a pub style restaurant, affordable housing options, walking trails, lots of green space and a second access point to the highway. BSI has not put forward another development application to the RDN at this point.
RDN chair Bill Veenhof, who represents Deep Bay/Bowser, said the OCP review would be an appropriate time for BSI to pitch their ideas to the community. The current OCP was adopted in 2004.
“A lot has changed in the past 11 years so this is a great opportunity to hear directly from residents about the topics and issues that are important to them today,” said Veenhof. “I look forward to hearing what residents have to say and working together toward a vibrant future for our area.”
Veenhof said he expects BSI’s development plan to be a big discussion topic at the review but noted there’s a lot of other issues the community may address including: Horne Lake’s strata set up, creating safe walking and cycling paths along Highway 19A and Gainsburg Road and Bowser’s sewage study to name a few.
“Change has happened,” he said. “It’s been way too long. The people who put this in place 11 years ago did a great job but some moved away and others have moved in.”
Veenhof said he’s excited for the review process to get underway and to hear from residents.
According to a news release issued by the RDN, the review process will engage residents and examine any changes that could be made to help achieve a unified community vision going forward.
The project will involve a series of community meetings and smaller working group sessions on identified topic areas. Residents are invited to attend the project kick off event Wednesday, February 3, from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Lighthouse Community Hall.
Presentations and a structured community discussion will begin at 7 p.m. The Lighthouse Community Hall is located at 240 Lions Way in Qualicum Bay.
