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3 small-home densification project approved by Lake Cowichan town council

The project is in concert with Lake Cowichan’s official community plan
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The subject lot at the corner of Neva Road and Oak Lane. (Lake Cowichan staff report)

Three new smaller-sized homes are coming to 163 Neva Rd. after town council approved a zoning application aimed at densifying that lot.

Currently one residential dwelling exists on the property at the corner of Neva Road and Oak Lane.

“Instead of one house they’re looking at three smaller homes with access through one driveway,” explained Lake Cowichan mayor Tim McGonigle, noting it’s a similar project to one developer Laurie Leblanc did on Penny Lane along the Cowichan River several years ago.

The project is in concert with Lake Cowichan’s official community plan which aims to “support increasing the range of housing types, particularly smaller units, and supports infill development that avails of existing infrastructure and increases density in appropriate areas,” according to a staff report.

McGonigle said the new council inherited this and the Lakewood Manor projects, from the former council which saw the need to diversify housing options in the town, but this council will have the pleasure of signing off on them.

“Kudos to previous councils that have made these changes,” he said. “It’s absolutely that’s what our OCP looks at, infill instead of urban sprawl and trying to infill within the downtown core is the intent of the OCP, as well as densification within subdivisions.”