The City of Delta has made a request for bids for a consultant to undertake a view corridor analysis and create 3-D models of a North Delta neighbourhood where residents are concerned about losing their views to new home construction.
Delta will spend up to $25,000 for a consultant to assist with the development of new zoning regulations to protect existing views in the Royal York neighbourhood.
The 3-D modelling is to demonstrate at least eight view corridor scenarios that will be presented at an upcoming public engagement.
Council this spring unanimously approved proceeding with a study for the area to include developing zoning options, commissioning view impact assessments and modelling, as well as additional consultation with the residents in a proposed new neighbourhood zoning boundary.
A planning department report notes that of the initial feedback received, residents were largely in support of exploring zoning options to protect their views, even if that means further restricting building regulations on their own properties.
Coun. Dan Copeland at the time said he’s concerned the city could be setting a precedent in that other neighbourhoods could expect guaranteed view protection.
Saying current residents should take precedence over absentee landlords and developers, homeowners in the Royal York neighbourhood raised alarm last summer over a pair of proposed view-blocking single-family housing developments, submitting a petition to Delta.
The Royal York neighbourhood was developed in the late 1960s to late 1970s through a combination of rezoning and land use contract bylaws.
A significant portion of the neighbourhood is sloped down from east to west.
The dwellings designed by the original developers of the neighbourhood afford many properties with views of Burns Bog, Boundary Bay, Tsawwassen and/or mountain ranges, Delta explains in its posting on BC Bid.
