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 citysa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淧rimarily because those off-site works wesa国际传媒檙e asking for, theysa国际传媒檙e already problems.sa国际传媒� 

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.

sa国际传媒淎s soon as we start adding these costs on the developer, the cost of that housing will also go up.sa国际传媒� 

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

sa国际传媒淢y thoughtssa国际传媒�$800,000, 400 units at $2,000 a unit, I think the developer can probably afford it.sa国际传媒�

Other councillors argued that the city cansa国际传媒檛 afford it.

sa国际传媒淪taff has looked at this, they know whether or not we have the money and they say we donsa国际传媒檛,sa国际传媒� Coun. Tasha DaSilva said.

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

sa国际传媒淚 note this doesnsa国际传媒檛 come with updated cost estimates. Wesa国际传媒檙e assuming this is what the costs will be.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲hen you have 400 more units there it becomes a necessity, otherwise yousa国际传媒檙e going to have the worst traffic mess in the city,sa国际传媒� Zanon added.

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

sa国际传媒淟ooking at the connection we need to make to Bartley Rd., we need that $815,000 for that connection.sa国际传媒�  

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