Nelson council passed first two readings of a zoning amendment that would allow a 30-unit townhome condo development on vacant golf course land at 2000 Choquette Avenue.
Put forward by Nelson's own West Creek Developments, the project dubbed "The Crossing at Granite Pointe" will see condo between 850- and 1,600-square feet spread between three buildings on a 1.3 acre property. The development will have a similar aesthetic to West Creek's previous projects, including West Creek Village on Perrier Road and The View on West Richards.
"This particular builder has found a niche that he seems to be able to work in quite well," mayor John Dooley said, noting the dwellings would be priced less than $300,000. "All their units are well positions to be sold and get people into the entry level market."
A couple councillors expressed concern that West Creek has only offered to contribute $250 per unit to the city's affordable housing reserve fund, which is low compared to what other developers agree to. But development manager David Wahn said it was fair in the circumstances.
"If these units were being sold for $500,000, that would be a different story," Wahn said. "To further tax these fairly-lower end properties [by making them pay more into the fund] it would be penalizing some degree of affordability."
Housing committee member and councillor Donna Macdonald also added that having moderately priced homes for sale for first-time buyers is one of the priorities in the affordable housing strategy.
Council also received a 20-signature petition from neighbouring residents who called the development "massive" and wanted to see one-level rancher style homes built on the site.
But ultimately councillors voted unanimously in favour of allowing the application to advance to a public hearing (tentatively scheduled for April 7), after which they will decide whether to give the project final approval.
Correction: An earlier version of this story online indicated the project was granted final approval from council, when in fact it only passed the first two readings