A proposed seniors apartment tower that could transform the skyline of downtown Langford has been given an initial green-light.

Victoria developer Peter Dosanjh unveiled his concept for 2771 Jacklin Rd. Monday night, which includes 131 units in a building with 14-storey, five-storey and nine-storey sections, and two levels of underground parking, on the three-quarter acre property.

The proposed LEED building would be a mix of rentals and condos marketed at independent living seniors, and would host a day care and commercial space, Dosanjh said.

“Economics drives the density, and a seniors project was the best option,” Dosanjh said.

Project architect Eric Barker said the West Shore needs more housing where seniors can “age in place,” and be close to shopping, amenities and transit. Staggering the building with different heights is a better fit to the neighourhood, he said, and stressed there would be aggressive tall tree planting around the property.

“It’s building density close to other uses,” Barker said. “It’s the best use of the land.”

The project would give Langford about $1 million in development cost charges and $576,000 in amenity contributions. Langford’s planning and zoning committee gave the project an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“It’s the first high, multi-storey building I’ve been in favour of,” said Coun. Denise Blackwell. “It’s important to get density right in the downtown, and that’s what we are doing here.”

“We need higher buildings downtown,” agreed committee member Steve Harvey. “The building is a positive thing, although I wouldn’t want it beside (my house).”

The property currently holds a low-income apartment building and a house, surrounded by four-storey condominiums on Jacklin Road and single family homes on Strathmore Road.

A few neighbours were less keen on the project than the committee. Some didn’t like the height or density, and others living to the north and northeast of the proposed building feared its shadow would leave them in the dark.

Andrew Charles-Roberts, who lives on Jacklin Road next door to the property, said he felt like “collateral damage.” “At 14-storeys I wouldn’t see the light of day. The equity in my house would drop. Financially I’m screwed,” Charles-Roberts said. “There are angry people here. It’s absolutely outrageous.”

Lloyd Sutton, who lives on Strathmore Road, gave the committee a petition he said had 127 names opposing the height. “It’s too high, it’s 100 feet higher than anything else around,” Sutton said. “We want to see our area left as a family-type area.”

Committee chair Coun. Lillian Szpak told the audience the proposal fits within Langford’s official community plan, and that the city has no set height restrictions.

Years ago people living in single family homes were upset when four-storey condo buildings started moving in, Szpak said. “It’s all relative to what you are used to.”

Trying to convince a skeptical audience, Barker said the layout and landscaping would hide much of the building from nearby homes. A shadow-modeling animation demonstrated the closest building to the north would receive a fair amount of shadow in the winter.

“There is no question the shadow will impact (that) building,” Barker said. “But shadow doesn’t stay in one spot ... it’s moving all the time.”

Dosanjh said winter light is diffused in the afternoon and that shadow modeling can be misleading. He also said he doubts property values in Langford’s core would ever drop.

“Height is clearly a key issue. It’s so big because we need the density to make it work. To make community facilities we need this number of units,” Barker said. “As the neighbourhood evolves and changes, this could be a trigger for more change, to make (our building) meld much better.”

The project is scheduled to get first reading at the Nov. 16 Langford council meeting.

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