Despite misgivings and disagreements about cost sharing, council has moved forward with a contentious apartment development planned for Auburn Road.

LandVision wants to build five buildings totalling 401 units at , across from Constable Neil Bruce Middle School.

Major off-site works are needed including dual left turn lanes at Highway 97 and Daimler Drive, and restricting left turns and through traffic onto Byland Rd. and Old Okanagan Highway.

The developer has proposed a 55-45 percent split with the city to cover the approximately $1.8  million cost. The city鈥檚 share would be about $815,000 (45 per cent). 

At its July 23 meeting, staff told council there was no funding allocated in the 2024 draft budget, and the works were not identified in the 10-Year Capital or Transportation Master plans.

Staff recommended LandVision pay 100 per cent of the costs.

Councillor Rick de Jong preferred the split.

鈥淧rimarily because those off-site works we鈥檙e asking for, they鈥檙e already problems.鈥� 

However, de Jong added he would go with the will of council.

Coun. Jason Friesen said he would be happy with a 75 (developer) 25 (city) spilt pointing out the city needs affordable housing.

鈥淎s soon as we start adding these costs on the developer, the cost of that housing will also go up.鈥� 

While noting the need for more housing and road improvements, Mayor Gord Milsom favoured LandVision to pay the bill.

鈥淢y thoughts鈥�$800,000, 400 units at $2,000 a unit, I think the developer can probably afford it.鈥�

Other councillors argued that the city can鈥檛 afford it.

鈥淪taff has looked at this, they know whether or not we have the money and they say we don鈥檛,鈥� Coun. Tasha DaSilva said.

Coun. Stephen Johnston had concerns if the $1.8 million would be the final number.

鈥淚 note this doesn鈥檛 come with updated cost estimates. We鈥檙e assuming this is what the costs will be.鈥�

The city has stipulated that off-site work be completed before building construction could begin.

Councillors Carol Zanon and Garrett Millsap said if the development were to be built, the extension of Auburn Rd to Bartley Rd would be needed to help ease expected increased traffic.

鈥淲hen you have 400 more units there it becomes a necessity, otherwise you鈥檙e going to have the worst traffic mess in the city,鈥� Zanon added.

Millsap pointed out that the cost would be on the city.

鈥淟ooking at the connection we need to make to Bartley Rd., we need that $815,000 for that connection.鈥�  

Council voted unanimously to give third reading to a zoning amendment and have LandVision pay for 100 per cent of the off-site projects.