Kevin Parnell
Black Press
A potential residential development that would feature close to 80 units and a new road access to Highway 97 close to Lodge Road in Lake Country is once again back before Lake Country council.
Council gave first reading to a rezoning application that would create single family dwellings as well as multi family row housing in a 26 acre parcel of land on the west side of Highway 97 near Lodge Road.
It’s the second time the proposal has come before Lake Country councilors. A similar application was before council in 2011 but expired in 2013 due to complications with the Ministry of Highways approval process.
At issue is a road right of way that currently runs through the proposed development. Under the current proposal, the road would separate the single family dwellings and the row housing.
Approval would be needed from the Ministry of Highways as well as Ministry of Infrastructure if the proposal gets the approval at Lake Country as it would create a new intersection onto the highway.
Coun. Penny Gambell said her concern with the current proposal is for the amount of single family homes proposed in the area, which is close to the Lake Country Main Street.
“Because this is so close to downtown it concerns me we would rezone to a low density (single family) so close to the town centre,” said Gambell. “I thought the push was to have higher densities closer to the town centre.”
Lake Country planner Mark Koch said the developer is open to creating more higher density units on the site as the project moves forward.
“The desire is to maximize density in sites like this,” said Koch. “There could be a willingness by the developer to designate a portion to fit with that.”
Council passed first reading and also called for a traffic impact study to be completed before the proposal comes back for second reading of the bylaw.
