The developer looking to build a large condo/apartment complex in West 麻豆精选 wants to be part of the solution to help the neighbourhood.
Landvision Group is seeking permission to put up five buildings, with 401 units, at 2741 Auburn Road, two blocks north of Highway 97.
The city, and Landvision, have concerns about traffic in the area with its proximity to Const. Neil Bruce Middle School and the highway.
鈥淲e understand that improvements are needed anyway,鈥� said Rachael Sansom, development consultant at Landvision Group. 鈥淭his project will actually bring 50 per cent of the funds to the table to help get those improvements completed.鈥�
A city staff report states that needed improvements include dual left turns from Daimler Drive northbound to Highway 97, restricting through and left turn traffic at Old Okanagan Highway and Byland Road, and a roundabout at Auburn Road.
Sansom said they are proposing a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement to the city for those upgrades.
鈥淚t was a product of collaboration between city staff and ourselves to understand the costs and timing of when the improvements are needed.鈥�
Sansom pointed out that West 麻豆精选 is a growth area and housing is much-needed.
鈥淭hese types of units are going to be very well received in the market.鈥�
While the property is currently zoned for 220 units, Sansom added the additional units Landvision is proposing will help pay for the road improvements.
鈥淲e see it as a win-win. It makes better use of the site, it addresses housing issues and it brings the improvements everybody is wanting to see.鈥�
Landvision鈥檚 proposal also includes 7.6 hectares of the property to be dedicated as parkland.
There is opposition to the project from residents of the Terravita condos, next door to the site.
Concerns are centered around traffic congestion, environmental impacts, and potential blasting during construction.
READ MORE: 鈥榃e鈥檙e dead set against this鈥�: West 麻豆精选 residents concerned over housing development
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be reaching out to the local neighbourhood association,鈥� Sansom said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e waiting until we have all the technical details understood so that we have accurate information. We鈥檙e hoping to do that concurrent with the public hearing process.鈥�
A date for a public hearing has yet to be scheduled.
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