Briefly from a public hearing, committee of the whole and regular council meeting at Parksville city council chambers on Monday night:
• Only one member of the public spoke to council during a public hearing regarding the proposed residential/commercial development at the corner of the Island Highway and Lombardy Street. This resident said she lives on Morrison Avenue and was cocerned about increased traffic in the area if the development went ahead.
• Elouise White wrote to the mayor concerned about a water bill she received from the city for $775. She said she then realized she had a leak. Later in the meeting, council passed a new policy about these situations, which basically takes into account a resident’s average monthly useage before a leak. The mayor later asked for, and received, a motion that put White’s situation in line with the new policy, giving her some relief from the huge bill.
• Kelland Foods official Bruce Robertson gave council an update on the plans for a new Quality Foods complex at 371 Alberni Highway, at the corner of Despard Avenue. Robertson said the store would be 40,000 square feet, plus a 10,000-square-foot mezzanine and would have 216 parking stalls, more than two times available at the current store on the island Highway.
“We recognize it’s the gateway to Parksville so we want to make an outstanding building,” said Robertson. Other Quality Foods officials in the past have said the new facility will be the company’s “flagship” store.
Council passed a motion to send the zoning bylaw amendment needed for the project to the advisory planning commission and a motion asking Quality Foods to hold an open house meeting about the plans.
• Council passed a motion that will allow the owners of 1514 Seaway Drive to subdivide their property into two lots without having to pay for the works and services. It’s expected any future subdivision of the lots will require servicing.
• Council awarded the detailed design and engineering services contract for the next phase of the Temple Street upgrade (Phillips to Bay) for $111,917.30. An earlier city news release said work was expected top start on this phase in the summer.
• City staff, or a contractor, will send the bill for the clean-up of two properties deemed unsightly by council to the out-of-town owners of 310 Pym Street and 505 Belson Street.
• Council heard a report from Fire Chief Doug Banks about the success of the recent B.C. Fire Training Officers convention in Parksville. Ninety-two fire departments in B.C, sent 209 delegates to the conference here May 24-29. Next year, the event is in Langley.
“They (Langley delegates) were quite nervous because the bar has been set quite high now<‘ said Banks.
