Site of the proposed dental clinic
Project Update, April 26, 2024: At its meeting on April 22, 2024, Council voted not to approve the Zoning Bylaw Text Amendment. Click here to review the report to Council and a recording of the Council discussion.
What's being proposed?
The City has received an application for a Zoning Bylaw amendment for 408 East Columbia Street. The applicant is proposing to increase the total amount of space allowed for "non-active" uses at the street level to accommodate a dental clinic in a vacant retail space. "Active" uses are considered to be optimal generators of street-level activity and can include restaurants, retail stores, arts, culture, and entertainment uses that generate frequent traffic.
This change is being requested to allow a dental clinic to be located on the ground floor within an existing retail unit. If approved, either retail or non-active uses may occupy this unit in the future.
This proposal requires an amendment to the Comprehensive Development (CD-79) Bylaw because it exceeds the ground floor maximum area of 30% for non-active uses. A pharmacy/medical clinic already occupies another ground-floor commercial unit, which accounts for the current 30% maximum. Adding the dental clinic would increase the non-active space to approximately 50%.
As the application does not propose any exterior changes to the buildings, no Development Permit is required.
The site contains a six-storey, mixed-use development that was completed in 2022. The building contains six commercial units on the ground level and office space on the second floor. Four of the six commercial retail units are occupied, with two currently vacant. The proposed zoning amendment would allow one of the two vacant units to be used for non-active uses.
How can I provide feedback?
City-led consultation took place from January 26 until February 15, 2024. A total of four survey responses were received, which were generally not supportive of the proposal. Feedback expressed from the survey primarily related to:
- The need for vibrant, unique storefronts along East Columbia Street.
- The importance of retail businesses that operate into the evening hours to encourage pedestrian traffic.
- A surplus of dental offices already operate within the area
Site of the proposed dental clinic
Project Update, April 26, 2024: At its meeting on April 22, 2024, Council voted not to approve the Zoning Bylaw Text Amendment. Click here to review the report to Council and a recording of the Council discussion.
What's being proposed?
The City has received an application for a Zoning Bylaw amendment for 408 East Columbia Street. The applicant is proposing to increase the total amount of space allowed for "non-active" uses at the street level to accommodate a dental clinic in a vacant retail space. "Active" uses are considered to be optimal generators of street-level activity and can include restaurants, retail stores, arts, culture, and entertainment uses that generate frequent traffic.
This change is being requested to allow a dental clinic to be located on the ground floor within an existing retail unit. If approved, either retail or non-active uses may occupy this unit in the future.
This proposal requires an amendment to the Comprehensive Development (CD-79) Bylaw because it exceeds the ground floor maximum area of 30% for non-active uses. A pharmacy/medical clinic already occupies another ground-floor commercial unit, which accounts for the current 30% maximum. Adding the dental clinic would increase the non-active space to approximately 50%.
As the application does not propose any exterior changes to the buildings, no Development Permit is required.
The site contains a six-storey, mixed-use development that was completed in 2022. The building contains six commercial units on the ground level and office space on the second floor. Four of the six commercial retail units are occupied, with two currently vacant. The proposed zoning amendment would allow one of the two vacant units to be used for non-active uses.
How can I provide feedback?
City-led consultation took place from January 26 until February 15, 2024. A total of four survey responses were received, which were generally not supportive of the proposal. Feedback expressed from the survey primarily related to:
- The need for vibrant, unique storefronts along East Columbia Street.
- The importance of retail businesses that operate into the evening hours to encourage pedestrian traffic.
- A surplus of dental offices already operate within the area
