Colwood Corners plan clears hurdle
Proposal, calling for eight buildings ranging up to 29 storeys,
Judith Lavoie Times Colonist
A massive plan to redevelop the centre of Colwood with a highrise hotel,
shops, and apartment and office buildings up to 29 storeys squeaked
through the city's planning and zoning committee.
The rezoning application by Les Bjola of Turner Lane Development Corp. for
the 2.9 hectare Colwood Plaza site at Colwood Corners, bounded by Sooke
Road, Jerome Road and Colwood Crescent, will go to council Monday.
Bjola told the committee Tuesday night he also bought the adjacent London
Drugs property that afternoon and he will be looking for an integrated
development. He said in an interview that planning for the London Drugs
site is getting underway immediately, and would eventually mean relocating
The first of the eight buildings Bjola hopes to construct at Colwood Plaza is a
12-storey hotel at the corner of Sooke Road and Colwood Crescent.
Carlson Hotels Worldwide is interested in operating the 80-room and 20-
suite hotel as either a Radisson or a Park Lane, Bjola said.
"The hotel would take about 18 months to build and, in my perfect world I
would like to get started in the summer of 2007 and open by Christmas of
The next phase in the 15- to 20-year building program would be three four-
storey assisted-living buildings on the Jerome Road/Galloping Goose Trail
That would mean knocking down nine rental houses Bjola owns.
"The bulldozer would probably be doing them a great favour," he said.
The pedestrian-friendly development, which would require road
realignments, would have two levels of underground parking, rooftop
gardens, green buildings using solar power and wind energy, and
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A mixed-use building facing Sooke Road would be eight storeys, but
controversy is already simmering over the three condominium buildings in
the centre of the project. Bjola wants zoning for 29 storeys, even though
the immediate plans call for 16, 20 and 24 storeys.
The compromise reached by the four committee members was for buildings
fronting Sooke Road to be no higher than 15 storeys, no buildings beside
the Galloping Goose to be more than four storeys and for buildings in the
middle not to exceed 29 storeys and to be tiered, meaning only one could
"This is the Official Community Plan on steroids," said Coun. Jason Nault,
who voted against sending the proposal forward.
Coun. Ernie Robertson, chairman for the meeting, retorted, "I think this is
the Official Community Plan on Viagra. It's a much-needed boost."
The project cost is estimated at $500 million, with another $350 million for
But the figure which made some eyes light up was Bjola's estimate of the
dollars that would flow into Colwood coffers.
"There's over $3 million, if you count the property I bought today, in annual
net taxes to the city. That's net -- after the province and school board have
Robertson said the prospect of the taxes makes it difficult to delay the
process until the Official Community Plan has been reviewed.
"We have an investor who's willing to put $3 million annually into Colwood
coffers. I am not going to jeopardize that for a process," Robertson said.
However, the full tax benefits would not come until all parts of the project
are built, and Bjola is also looking for a tax freeze on the properties until
occupancy permits are issued and a five-year tax-free status for the hotel.
As the application goes through the council process, it is likely only five
councillors will be voting on it. Coun. David Saunders and Mayor Jody Twa
will probably absent themselves, as both have property interests in the area.
Copyright 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of
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INFORME TECNICO BROMEFLOX ® Producto : BROMEFLOX ® contiene en su formula por cada adición de más Fluor logre una mayor eficacia Combinación de un antibiótico con un muco lítico b ) Mecanismo Acción : indicado para el tratamiento de infecciones aviares causadas por bacterias Gram. positivas , Las quinolonas y fluorquinolonas tienen su sitio de acción en la
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Thursday » December 14 » 2006
A mixed-use building facing Sooke Road would be eight storeys, but
controversy is already simmering over the three condominium buildings in
the centre of the project. Bjola wants zoning for 29 storeys, even though
the immediate plans call for 16, 20 and 24 storeys.