A housing development for the southern end of the Willow Point neighbourhood of Campbell River has been approved.
City council gave the go-ahead last week for the development plan at 387 Arizona Drive at the southern end of Willow Point, backing on the Jubilee Parkway.
The developer, Monterra Projects of Courtenay, is planning 47 units with a mix of duplexes and single family homes between 1,300 and 2,000 square feet, plus a community garden and a playground on the 1.58 hectares (3.9 acres) of land.
In its letter of intent, the developer says the homes will be “suited for families whether small, growing, or going into semi-retirement.” Building of the “Atlin” neighbourhood will be done in four phases.
Approving the subdivision didn’t come without some questions and at least one concern.
Asked by Coun. Colleen Evans, Senior Planner Meghan Norman said the road and all utilities will be put it so all the sites are “set up and prepped” for the future phases. It would also aid in access and turnarounds for emergency services, Norman said.
Coun. Charlie Cornfield felt the location of the community garden at the corner of the parkway and Willow Creek Road was “rather strange.”
“I think that’s a poor choice of trying to attract people there to work on a garden…right out at the main intersection and I worry about things like emissions from vehicles,” Cornfield said.
The councillor said it reminded him of Delta, where crops had to be moved back from the road due to pollutants settling on the food.
Cornfield was also worried about vandals saying the site would be “easy to disrupt,” though he did like the access from the neighbourhood to the Jubilee Trail.
The approval is subject to developer paying a total of $344,163 in performance securities for landscaping, fencing, outdoor furniture and the garden, which will be split up based on requirements of each phase.
There’s no timeline on construction as building permits still have to be issued.
