There was no surprise Monday night as Qualicum Beach council changed the potential look and feel of the downtown core.
In a 3-2 vote, which has been the outcome in all previous votes on these downtown development issues, town councillors made significant reductions to development cost charges in the Village Neighbourhood Plan, eliminated the restrictions on building height and will allow residential units on the ground floor of new buildings downtown. Councillors Dave Willie, Bill Luchtmeijer and Mary Bruilette held the majority of votes, leaving mayor Teunis Westbroek and coun. Scott Tanner to ask for recorded votes on the matter.
What the changes are hoped to do, is spark new construction and redevelopment in town — an assumption with which plenty of people take issue.
“I’m concerned about the form and character of the downtown,” said resident Trevor Wicks during a public hearing on the town’s bylaw amendments. “Don’t be like Parksville, maintain the character of Qualicum Beach. I would question this big change.”
Others stated outright they didn’t see the need for such drastic change and the town is giving in to developers, when it’s market conditions causing current doldrums, not town policies. They also referenced the town’s survey of developers earlier this year — 57 people they pointed out who basically led to these changes.
“There’s a rumour that Qualicum Beach is not friendly to development,” said resident Lois Eaton. “But evidence of that is in short supply.”
She added she doesn’t want to see the town lose its protections in place to maintain the form and character of its downtown, calling the process that has led council to this point was heavily weighed on the side of developers.
“You will change the character of the town,” added Edmund De Carros, stating if any of this had been evident during the last municipal election, the results would have been different.
“Developers are already getting a break here,” said resident Charna McFie, “and the costs are being passed on to the residents.”
While many people said they are not against development, those on the other side of the coin at the public hearing begged to differ.
Resident Rusty Joerin urged council to pass the amendments unanimously, to help create a vibrant downtown.
“It’s time Qualicum Beach walked the walk, not just talk the talk,” he said. “It’s time for Qualicum Beach to grow up.”
Dave Bryan added things like dropping the building height restrictions was never seen as carte blanche for sky rises in town, but a way to allow for different designs and features — all within the town’s existing form and character guidelines.
Resident Merle Summers added the changes will drive more business activity to town.
“Qualicum Beach will not become a Surrey,” she said. “No one here will allow that to happen.”
Bruilette said that all of council has the best interests of the town in mind, no matter how they vote.
“No one is going to build something you’re not going to buy,” added Willie, calling for more diversity.
Westbroek noted he was blindisded by the stance taken by the three other councillors when the issues first came up. What it comes down to now, he said, is trust.
“Council has to be trusted by all sectors of the community — not just the 57 people in the survey,” he said.
That trust, and the town’s time spent on these issues, was raised by former mayor Art Skipsey.
“A third of this council’s time has been on changing the height of buildings and the downtown,” he said. “The real problem is, we’re too close to Nanaimo. I feel council has wasted its time on policies that will do nothing.”
