After years of delays, the Lantzville Foothills residential development officially broke ground on Friday.
Representatives from Storm Mountain Developments-Lone Tree Properties, the company that owns the Foothills, were at the entrance to the development for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Ben Hurlbutt, director of marketing and sales, told a small crowd that included local politicians and recent buyers that the event is the result of Storm Mountain’s hard work.
“It’s amazing what they have accomplished,” he said.
Lantzville councillors Will Geselbracht and Bob Colclough were both on hand. They told a small crowd of buyers and investors that the Foothills were owed by a long list of people through the years, including a French national who wanted to create a lake on the site.
“He was going dam Knarston Creek and build a lake and there was going to be a golf course. It was going to be like a little Disneyland,” Colclough said.
Instead of Disneyland and a lake, the 744-hectare Foothills project, once completed, will result in the construction of approximately 730 homes and a mixed-use village and a 364-hectare park over a 10-year period.
Speaking to the New Bulletin afterwards, Allard Ockeloen, president of Storm Mountain Development, said called the event monumental, adding that he’s pleased to finally begin the construction phase.
“We’ve spent the last five years getting to this point,” he said “It’s a momentous day for us.”
Ockeloen said with all the issues regarding water supply and turn over of multiple Lantzville staff members, the Foothills development has been one of the more challenging projects he’s had to work on.
One of the biggest moments for the development was the discovery of water according to Ockeloen, who said the Foothills has enough water to supply all the homes.
He said construction is expected to begin in July and will take place over a 12-month period.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “We’ve got no doubt that we’re going to have some issues with the neighbourhood in terms of the impact we are going to have and we will be working closely with the neighbourhood to ensure everyone stays safe.”
nicholas.pescod@nanaimobulletin.com