A former gas-station site that has been vacant for years on Quadra Street just north of McKenzie will be getting a makeover.
This week, Saanich council endorsed a rezoning application to allow a three-storey building with dental offices and four residential units on the triangular lot at 4079 Quadra St. The developer has said the residential units would be rentals for at least 10 years.
The 14,700-square foot property is currently zoned C-9 (Local Service Station) and has been remediated since its gas-station days. It received a certificate of compliance for radiation on the site and previous contamination in 2008.
The new zoning, which still needs final approval, is C-4 Office and Apartment.
Mayor Dean Murdock noted the surrounding neighbourhood expressed little opposition to the project.
“The emphasis on medical office space was something that was really attractive to council. It’s going to utilize what has been an empty lot for many, many years to create homes, to create office space. And I think that’s going to be a vast improvement over that empty lot.”
Coun. Colin Plant, who pushed to have staff ask the developer to extend the rental covenant longer than the proposed 10 years, said the lack of opposition suggests Saanich ought to just get on with the project.
“I think this is fairly moderate given the fact that the current plan says we could have up to four storeys here and I appreciate that this is going to likely make some more opportunities for medical practices in Saanich,” he said.
Saanich council unanimously moved the project forward Monday night.
The developer, R.W. Wall from Nanaimo, has offered to provide $10,000 to the district’s affordable housing fund, as the application was filed in 2020 when an interim community amenity contribution policy was in place.
Since then a new community amenity contribution policy exempts projects with fewer than six housing units.
