Following a contentious public hearing, the Township of Esquimalt is moving forward with rezoning properties for a six-storey residential building at 861 and 863 Esquimalt Rd.
The building will feature 59 residential units and 44 parking spaces; standing just over 21 metres tall.
At the Monday, Nov. 4 meeting, council heard from surrounding residents and current tenants of the properties that are slated to be redeveloped.
Two residents who live on Wollaston Street behind the property, said they are concerned with noise from construction and the height of the building, which they say would tower over the single-family homes along Wollaston.
"We will be severely impacted by the development and it's not a case of 'nimbyism.' I'm well aware that change needs to happen, but I'd like this change to help foster [a] healthy and vibrant neighbourhood, and I think having this big building, which is already between four-storey [buildings] on either side, is a bit ostentatious," said Suzanne, a Wollaston Street resident.
A resident of one of the current buildings that would be demolished, Carlos, explained that he is a senior living on a fixed income, and is unable to find reasonably priced housing if he is pushed out of his current housing.
"There's just not enough money in my budget to pay for a $2,000 apartment. My wife and I are in a situation where we need help to find a place to live. Since all of this has begun we are not sleeping, eating, it's affecting us real bad" he said.
Mayor Barbara Desjardins said the proposed development is a good-looking building and is consistent with use and density within proposed land-use, however, referencing Carlos' situation, she mentioned there is also a social aspect to developments like this.
"We're in a terrible crisis of housing, the cost of living is huge, so we're doing what we can. Clearly it isn't meeting [people's] needs at this point, but I just want to recognize that we are all very aware of that," said Desjardins, who echoed similar statements from other council members.
The third reading of the zoning amendment was passed unanimously.
