Cut Lost growth

Four townhouses cut to two, 324 Chester Road

The owner of 324 Chester Road asked to rezone so four planned townhouses could each be sold. Town planners and the planning commission supported it. Council refused on June 18, 2025, and the owner said they would build two instead.

Town tax lost (our estimate)
$3K a year
Not built
2 homes
Where it stands
Refused June 2025. A rezoning so all four could be sold separately. Town planners and the planning commission supported it; Council refused it, 3⁠–⁠2. The owner said they would build two instead.

What it is

The lot’s zoning already allows four homes, but only two of them can be strata-titled, which means sold separately. The owner planned to remove an old house and garage and build four townhouses, and asked for a rezoning so all four could be sold. The height, lot coverage and setbacks would not change.

Staff told Council the owner had said that without the rezoning, they would build only two strata-titled units, with no rental units or suites.

The Town set the two-unit limit in 2024, when it brought in the Province’s rules allowing four homes per lot. Staff said the aim was to encourage duplexes, cottages and suites in established neighbourhoods, while limiting four-unit strata projects outside the Village Neighbourhood.

What happened

  1. March 5, 2025The owner applied for the rezoning and a development permit.
  2. April 14, 2025Council found the plan consistent with the Official Community Plan, which under provincial law meant no public hearing, and sent it to the Advisory Planning Commission.
  3. May 21, 2025The commission found the parking, colours, materials, roof and fit with the neighbouring house acceptable, and recommended approving the permit.
  4. June 18, 2025Staff recommended first and second reading. Council refused the rezoning (Resolution 25-139, carried 3–2, Councillors Harrison and Young opposed). The minutes don’t record reasons.

Why it matters

  • Town property tax: about $3,000 a year, our estimate, for the two townhouses not built. That uses the Vancouver Island benchmark townhouse price for August 2026 ($550,000) and the Town’s 2026 rate ($2.7401 per $1,000).
  • The lot is at the end of Chester Road, next to the Heritage Forest. Staff said the new building would sit further from the slope than the existing house.
  • The plan had 10 parking spaces, more than the 4 required.

Sources

Last checked October 3, 2026. Report a mistake.