The east end of Beacon is due for a facelift.
Marker Development, which owns the property at 9820 Seaport Place, has made an application to the town to build a mixed-use development including two buildings to replace the parking lot currently at the location.
The building proposed for the south east corner of Landmark Lane is a one-storey commercial use building, with two 750 square foot suites tucked in behind. The building located to the north is a two-storey, eight townhouse development, six of which are single storey units.
“The vision established in the Local Area Plan is one we like to call one of the best in the north west,” said Mike Cronquist of Marker Development. He noted that the piece of property is owned freehold by the Sidney Waterfront Partnership and the proposal complies with the zoning. The plan requires a development variance permit to allow dwelling units to be located on the ground floor and to allow the entrance door frames of the commercial units to protrude into the front setback. There is also an insufficient right-of-way width and paved road width of Landmark Lane.
The Downtown Waterfront Local Area Plan encourages the development of Seaport Place and Landmark Lane as pedestrian priority streets, with a focus on the widening of Landmark Lane when redevelopment of the western Seaport land occurs.
“Landmark Lane is not designed to be a major thoroughfare like Beacon Avenue,” said councillor Steve Price. “Is it feasible to have Landmark Lane be one way to the property line of the Marina Court building?” he asked staff.
Currently the Landmark Lane right-of-way is approximately nine metres wide and the standard requirement is 15 metres wide.
“The developer can provide a road dedication or statutory right-of-way for widening the road,” said director of development services, Randy Humble. The developer would have to grant the town some of its property to make the road wider.
“I don’t think it’s reasonable to ask for them to (give property to the town), said councillor Cliff McNeil-Smith. “It seems to me there should be some compensation to the property owner … and it would be expensive.”
With 30 underground parking spaces being accessed off Landmark Lane, McNeil-Smith said the question becomes one of pedestrian safety.
Town planning staff believe that a significant widening of Landmark Lane may work against the goal of developing it as a pedestrian priority street, and since the town does not have a road dedication over the Marina Court property the full benefit of the road widening can’t be realized.
Sidney council forwarded the proposal to the Advisory Planning Commission for review and comment.
editor@peninsulanewsreview.com