Mill Bay housing proposal stalls amid developer criticism

Developer Daniel Behrens, capital projects director for the Purdey Group, criticised the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Electoral Area Services committee on July 15 for a "circular" process that repeatedly defers decisions on the Mill Bay housing project. He argued that the committee should issue a clear vote with documented reasons rather than sending the proposal back for further studies.

The CVRD board had declined to give first readings to the bylaws needed to advance the project, instead returning the Official Community Plan amendment (No. 4721) and the South Cowichan Zoning Amendment (No. 4722) to the committee. Mill Bay/Malahat Director Kate Segall referred the matter back to staff to work on height and density reductions, stating that local residents must see their input considered. The proposal calls for four three‑storey townhouse blocks (22 units) and two five‑ to six‑storey apartment buildings (139 units) on a 1.2‑hectare site, requiring an OCP amendment that would redesignate the land from village residential to village core.