Plans for construction of a new 88-bed residential care facility in the Cowichan Valley to begin in March may have been a little premature.
Island Health announced on Nov. 30 that it had partnered with H&H Total Care Services Inc. in the project, which would be located on the corner of Beverly Street and York Road, with construction of the facility set to begin in March and be completed by November, 2019.
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But the Municipality of North Cowichan said the proponents have only recently applied to rezone the property to accommodate the mix of land uses that would be required.
“This is typically a six to 12-month process that would include a public hearing and council approval,” the release from the municipality states.
“If this is obtained, the proponent would then need to apply for development and building permits.”
North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure said, however, that the approval process can sometimes be shorter than that.
“If it’s a very straightforward application and there are no complications, the process could go faster,” he said.
Tim Orr, the director of residential services at Island Health, said the health authority’s partners at H & H, who have begun the process of requesting the rezoning, will work closely with its municipal partners and the community to bring the project to completion as quickly as possible.
“Island Health is optimistic that community leaders, who are aware of the critical need to increase capacity for residential and complex care for older adults in the Cowichan Valley, will support this important, new facility,” Orr said.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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