Nelson CARES million-dollar project for Lower Fairview moves to public hearing setting
By Timothy Schafer
The city has put a proposed development for Lower Fairview on the front burner, moving to a public hearing format on the $11.3-million project.
City council passed first and second reading recently on a zoning amendment for 805 Nelson Ave., the site for Nelson CARES Society’s proposed Lakeside Place development, opening the way for a public hearing pursuant to the Local Government Act to be scheduled.
The society is asking for an increase in building height from three to four storeys, a decrease to the exterior setback from 4.5 metres to 2.5 m., as well as a decrease to the parking requirements from 59 stalls to 19 stalls, in order to redevelop the Lakeside Place affordable housing building.
The redevelopment will involve the demolition of a 1950s era motel, a “functionally and physically obsolete building” that currently provides 20 units of substandard affordable rental housing, noted a city staff report to city council.
The four-storey, wood-frame building would replace the previous development, providing 47 affordable rental units including:
- 36 one-bedroom units sized for mobility impairment or for two-person occupancy;
- six two-bedroom units for two-person households where one person may be ill or disabled; and
- five studio units for adults with physical or mental health disabilities at risk of homelessness, replacing four of the existing units that will be demolished for the redevelopment.
The units will range in size from 334 to 775 square feet including studio, one and two bedroom units. The one and two bedroom units will be targeted for low to moderate-income seniors (55 plus) who are able to live independently.
The rents for 23 of the units are expected to be below market and 24 of the units will be at the low end of the market.
The development will also include a seniors’ services and resource support centre on the first floor.
Although Nelson CARES has applied to decrease the exterior side setback adjacent to the road right-of-way and Nelson Avenue from 4.5 m. to 2.5 m., the society has noted that it will landscape a section of the right-of-way immediately adjacent to the site.
“Landscaping this closed section of the road right-of-way will provide additional public open space for the community and provide for a more aesthetic use of this space,” city manager of Development Services Pam Mierau told council.
An amendment is also required to approve reduced parking requirements, requesting a 40 stall decrease to the number of parking stalls required, going from 59 stalls (1.25 stalls per unit) to 19 stalls (0.4 stalls per unit).
Other housing providers in the city — such as Anderson Gardens, (0.32 stalls per unit) — have the proposed 0.4 stalls per unit parking requirement, including Mountain Lakes development and the Nelson Landing development.
The majority of the people housed in Nelson CARES Society affordable housing units do not own vehicles, noted a city staff report to
council.
“The tenant base for the new Lakeside Place building will be of a similar socioeconomic status, and the applicant is anticipating that fewer than one third will own and operate vehicles,” the report noted.
The society has made accommodation for scooter and bike parking in the building.
The new project is within walking distance to stores, services and other amenities, as well as within close proximity to Lakeside Park.
The location is also a 15-minute walk to downtown, and is adjacent to a bus stop at the corner of Nelson and Kokanee avenues.
The estimated $11.3-million project will be primarily funded by BC Housing. Additional funding will be provided by Columbia Basin Trust, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Nelson CARES Society.
