Project might shrink at Sidney fire hall site

A contentious development at Sidney’s fire hall site might become smaller but with more parking space.

Sidney council and Fire Hall Development Ltd. partners Fraser McColl and Dan Robbins have signed a memorandum of understanding to re-negotiate the size, design and price of a sixstorey condominium and retail centre. Changes are to be decided by March 11. “It’s an opportunity to review the development that has been considered so contentious,” said Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith in an interview.

During the October 2018 municipal election, the sale of the Sidney fire hall lot and the adjacent neighbouring lot, 9821 and 9837 3rd St. at the corner of Sidney Avenue, became controversial.

The former town council was accused of maximizing financial return with a building so large and tall it sacrificed Sidney’s small-town character and needs.

“The majority of the previous council decided to maximize the purchase price,” said McNeilSmith. “But a significant number of residents and businesses were concerned that we should consider the best development for the site.”

The developers could not be reached for comment.

The previous council granted the developers significant variances to the size and required amenities for the proposed building.

Instead of the permitted four storeys, the developers could build six. They were also allowed to install 91 parking stalls instead of the 124 required for a development of the proposed size. Also, an existing municipal parking lot on the site would shrink from 48 to 30 stalls.

McNeil-Smith said the previous agreement, including its sale price and development approvals, will remain in force if a new deal cannot be worked out.

That particular deal, however, will not close until the existing fire hall is vacated and the fire department along with paramedics and ambulances have moved into a new more spacious building now under construction.

The new community safety building, just south of the Mary Winspear Centre, is expected to be completed in April. Costs have risen significantly on the new building, from the $10 million envisioned in 2017 to $16.5 million today. Increases in construction costs have been blamed for the overruns.