Coldstream has reached a compromise with the Highlands builder over the height of future development.
The Highlands is being granted a height variance for one phase of construction. But with it, comes a restrictive covenant on the construction of another phase (which is directly below existing Middleton Way homes).
“It truly is the buildings in the middle row that will impact the views,” said Michael Reiley, Coldstream’s director of development services.
Middleton Way residents have been vocal with their concerns that the height of these new homes will take away their own views.
“Consider the people that are there now,” said Sharon Lockwood.
Several councillors suggested lowering the covenant (currently 10 metres) even more, but concerns that the developer might walk away from the negotiations were confirmed by the builder.
“If we don’t grant the variance all this negotiating goes out the window and there may be a drastic impact on the residents there,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane.
Approval rejected
One of Coldstream’s own has failed to gain the necessary approvals for some land changes.
Coun. Peter McClean asked his council to consider an Agricultural Land Reserve application at his Coldstream Creek Road property.
McClean was hoping to include the upper 6.37 acres of his land into the ALR, subdivide off the existing 2.5 acre homeplate and lease or sell the remaining 16 acres.
“I, nor any of my children, wish to continue farming,” said McClean, whose great grandfather purchased the property in 1904 and the land was an orchard up until 2007.
But following concerns from a couple of his colleagues, McClean’s application has been left in limbo (council’s support is needed for staff to forward the application to the Agricultural Land Commission).
Along with not meeting the typical five-acre home lot size, there are concerns that the changes could impact Coldstream’s agricultural land.
“This to me is one of those things that is a death by 1,000 cuts (to agriculture),” said Coun. Maria Besso.
But McClean feels the land change would actually protect the property from any future development.
“There will be a house up in non-ALR land,” he said if the approval isn’t granted and the land is one-day sold off.
Still, council did not endorse the application.
“If we put property back into the land commission that shouldn’t be there in the first place, we’re contradicting ourselves,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane.
