The proposed six-storey commercial and residential development at the intersection of the Anderton and Guthrie in Comox is concerning.

The supporting traffic assessment was taken on March 28, 2023 between 8-9 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. This date was during School District 71 spring break, meaning there was no regular school traffic through the intersection to either Highland Secondary or Brooklyn Elementary. Likewise, Ecole-Au-Coeur-De-L'卯le (Linshart Ave) was on break.There was no traffic count over the lunch period, with even fast food restaurants are currently in service at the intersection.

The project seeks to add 205 rental units plus ground floor commercial units. A Starbucks drive through is proposed, meaning more idling vehicles purchasing more single use containers. Development is ongoing across Guthrie at 700 Anderton. Next to Cypress Grove at 468 Anderton is another 16 unit townhouse development. It is anticipated that the Leeward Liquor Store property will be rezoned and densified. All of this densification is within a one kilometre radius of Anderton and Guthrie.

I am not anti-development and I acknowledge the nationwide housing shortage. I am anti too-much, too-big, too-fast. Current bylaws and the OCP do not allow for six storey buildings, yet the developer wants this regardless and is seeking variances to the required number of parking spaces (physical building footprint leaves inadequate space for parking) and encroachments on the ALR buffer between farmland (seeking to use ALR buffer as a 鈥済reen space鈥� as the footprint does not allow space for the ALR buffer covenant and 鈥済reen space鈥�).

If you think this issue does not affect you directly, it likely does. If council approves the project and variances, will this not set a precedent for future development? Concerned? Get yourself and others engaged. Express your concerns. Project reports are available at comox.ca/development. Read the summaries. Know the facts.

This is too-much, too-big, too-fast.