One person who is monitoring the Qualicum Beach official community plan process with some satisfaction is Paul Kim.
The co-owner of the Eaglecrest Golf Course said he was heartened to get preliminary approval for his proposal to move his planned nine-unit subdivision across the street to the site of the old driving range.
“It looks like they have preliminary thumbs up in terms of exploring the nine -lot subdivision in the OCP,” Kim said.
During discussion of public input into the plan late last month, council agreed with a staff recommendation to include the residential development at the golf course in the proposed OCP document.
In the report, staff noted the site sits just outside the town’s urban containment boundary, meaning the boundary would have to be changed slightly.
They also noted the move across Country Club Drive would be accompanied by a covenant to maintain an 18-hole golf course at the site and to maintain the property as such.
Kim stressed the proposal changes little overall.
“It’s the same number of units in the same style,” he said. “All the lots are conforming to the minimum widths and lot size. For all intents and purposes it’s the same, but across the street.”
Kim said the move was deemed necessary for a couple of reasons.
“First, it will help us in terms of when the construction occurs,” he said. “This way, we will still be able to operate the golf course without too much interruption.”
As well, he said, he never intended to put the driving range back in operation, meaning the land was standing idle.
“It’s too short and a liability,” he said. “It’s land that was not being utilized.”
Finally, he said, moving the development across the street separates the residential development from the commercial aspect of the golf course.
“Under the original plan it was more intermingled,” he said. “This separates it. It’s a lot cleaner.”
Kim conceded he and his family still have a long way to go, but this first step is encouraging.
“At least we are out of the gate and on our way,” he said.
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