A long-stalled, multi-phase housing plan for 167 Konigus Street is moving ahead again after Kitimat council voted this week to begin processing three new rezoning applications tied to the development.
The proposal, put forward by Riverbrook Estates, includes a manufactured home community, two apartment buildings, and a second phase of townhomes, all within the same hillside property off Konigus. Though elements of the project date back a number of years, progress was slow until the updated applications were submitted this fall.
Council unanimously voted to advance the rezonings to the next step in the process, which includes technical review and subdivision planning before public input.
One key change pointed out during the meeting has to do with flood-hazard requirements. Staff confirmed that the site’s existing covenant will be replaced by a new one, reflecting the updated flood management bylaw of the District. That means raising the first-floor construction elevations for modular and manufactured homes above previous design levels.
The road elevations can be a little lower, but the finished homes themselves must be at the higher building-height standard.
Councillors welcomed the update, mentioning recent heavy rain events and pooling in the lower Konigus neighbourhoods.
Some councillors had concerns about the amount of additional traffic that could be added to Dease Street and Dunn Street when the development is fully built out. One idea included looking for a secondary access connection to Cormorant Avenue to help lower pressure on nearby residential streets.
Engineering staff said those questions will be addressed during the subdivision phase, when traffic impacts and emergency-vehicle access requirements are formally assessed.
Although specific unit counts will be finalized later in the process, the mix of manufactured homes, townhouses, and apartments is considered one of the largest single additions to Kitimat’s housing landscape in years. Councillors noted that Riverbrook Estates has a proven history within the community, having completed earlier Town Centre developments.
The project will now go through the remaining steps in the process of amending the bylaw, including engineering reviews, public notification, and, later, a public hearing.
