The City of Parksville was ready to give the Post and Lantern affordable housing project final approval at their most recent meeting, but new information led to the item being dropped last minute.
A councillor had received some new information well after the final public meeting on the project.
Chief administrative officer Fred Manson said any change significant enough that a councillor might change their mind, means the project is legislatively required to go back to the public so everyone has a chance to express opinions on the final proposal.
Manson said at the time of the council meeting they didn’t all know what the new information was, so they erred on the side of caution and postponed the three items involving the Post and Lantern.
Council has been supportive of the affordable housing development for the old motel across from McDonald’s, unanimously asking staff to fast track the application, but the proposal stumbled along the way.
There were complaints that staff was not getting the details they needed and some debate about affordability and security for the property which had a poor reputation in the past.
Property owner Vince Jandirsch, a commercial pilot embarking on his first development project, admitted he was surprised by the amount of details and hurdles but appeared to answer most concerns along the way.
Council passed third reading last August, leaving three issues that were described as minor to be resolved before final approval.
Jandirsch hoped to complete the application by last fall to qualify for a $600,000 forgivable loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, but that fell through.
The three outstanding items were to be addressed at the recent council meeting, but council will now receive a report from staff on the new information and may have to rescind third reading and send it back to the public with any changes.
