A developer is offering to build a massive residential complex in Merritt.

The project going before council on Tuesday proposes a three-storey, 95 unit building located near the Nicola Valley Hospital, at 4010 Walters Street. That would include 36 studio suites, 30 one-bedroom suites and 29 suites with two or three bedrooms.

Planning and development services manager Mark Brodrick says staff recommend the project go ahead as long as the developer addresses some issues in its current plan.

Among those, the plan exceeds maximum density and site coverage limits outlined in the city’s zoning; the 95 units exceeds the limit of 75, while the building would cover about 64 per cent of the lot which is above the limit of 50 per cent. Also, the site would need 132 parking spaces and only has plans for 118 at this point.

“Merritt is under a fair bit of development pressure. The last say three years, there’s been a very significant increase in all different kinds of development,” Brodrick says. “Whether it’s single-family residential subdivisions, commercial, industrial, that sort of thing. So the development pressure is here.”

Brodrick adds the proposal is a first of its kind for Merritt, with the current plan calling for 19 “affordable” units among the 95.

“Now there was a multi-family building that has burned down within the last year or so. And so it is known that there is a need for rental accommodation and for affordable accommodation.”

Council will see the plans for the first time tomorrow, and will be recommended to have staff direct the developer address outstanding issues before further consideration of the project. Council will also be recommended to ask staff to bring forward housing and road-encroachment agreements at a later date.

(Photo: City of Merritt)