Westporte neighbours share concerns on Rainbow Gardens development

Published 12:04 pm Sunday, April 5, 2026

Residents in the Westporte area are still unhappy about a proposed housing expansion for Tsawaayus Rainbow Gardens despite several changes to the original plans. The independent living units have been on the drawing board since June 2025 and were the subject of a public hearing on March 23.

With the previous version of the application, 35 seniors would be housed in a subsidized independent living environment. Due to the requested changes from council, that number has been lowered to 31 units. The proposed building was reduced from three storeys to two storeys with the building’s footprint being larger to accommodate the lower height. The new design is intended to look similar to townhouses while remaining an apartment building.

At the June 23, 2025 council meeting, Coun. Cindy Solda said more than 50 people are on a waiting list for this development. The new Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens expansion design was moved forward by Port Alberni city council at the Aug. 11 council meeting.

When council sent the application back at that meeting, concerns were around traffic, the building not matching the character of the neighbourhood, loss of green space and not having community buy-in.

On March 23, 2026, the city held a public hearing for the new design where neighbours had a chance to share their concerns. Many were still opposed to the development, saying the new design doesn’t alleviate concerns.

The first speaker said her grandson plays in the stretch of green space in the area and if the building is constructed, that only area for kids to play in Westporte will be gone.

Mayor Sharie Minions said she knows there’s been a loss of parks in the neighbourhood and with council’s upcoming parks and recreation master plan, the city will be prioritizing adding a new place for kids to play in Westporte.

Another speaker lives across the street from where the proposed building would be.

“The first building took my view of the mountains away. This one will take the whole skyline away,” he said. He added the work from the previous construction vibrated his home to the point where it was difficult to be inside during the day. “The proponent had a promise of putting in park space and that didn’t happen and I feel that that’s a social letdown, that’s really unfortunate.”

The space where the new building is set to go was once promised to be a park space for the community to use. One resident of Rainbow Gardens who opposes the new building said there were other promised additions to that space.

“From what I heard we were supposed to get a gazebo in the back of our building, never did happen. What we heard, they wanted to put a pickleball field there. Never did happen.” She noted folks living in the facility want to be able to see their neighbours across the street and she’s concerned there will be a loss of privacy with a new building facing the current one.

Several of the speakers also expressed concern over parking and busy roads, saying unless more parking spaces are added there won’t be enough spots for residents to park and their family members to visit. Some also said the road is already unsafe with drivers speeding in the area and they fear more traffic would make the problem worse.

Councillor Debbie Haggard asked for the city’s transportation committee to look into the area for potential signage or speed bumps to address those problems.

The city’s transportation impact assessment noted the road can accommodate traffic resulting from the new housing.

But it also noted public transportation in the area is limited and infrastructure for active transportation isn’t suitable for all ages and abilities.

The 2024 housing needs report for Port Alberni says there’s an immediate need for this type of housing and these 31 units would accommodate 17 per cent of the city’s immediate need for non-market housing. The report says 1,220 units are needed over the next five years to meet Port Alberni’s housing needs. It also notes that seniors are particularly challenged in the housing market and more affordable senior housing options are required.

Council will consider the development at a future meeting.