A proposed six-storey rental development in Ladner continues to wind its way through the application process before going to Delta council for consideration.
The proposal for the vacant lot on 5737 Ladner Trunk Rd. would see a new apartment building with 78 market rental residential units, along with 40 residential, two visitor and five rideshare parking spaces.
Vehicle access from would be from 57A Street and 48A Avenue.
The planning department notes that the proposal is consistent with the Neighbourhood Centres and Corridors (NC) land use designation in Delta’s new Official Community Plan (OCP).
Also having yet to make its way to the council table is another application to build a new rental apartment building in Ladner.
This one is an 81-unit building at 4501 Arthur Dr., where a heritage structure that has fallen in serious disrepair is to be demolished.
That proposed complex will have a level of underground parking and four storeys above.
The site’s designation under the OCP is Mixed Residential. The development would require an OCP amendment, and thus a public hearing, to change the land use designation to Neighbourhood Centres and Corridors to permit the proposed height and build form.
Metro Vancouver, meanwhile, in partnership with the province, several member jurisdictions and other partners, is developing a blueprint to accelerate the delivery of six-storey rental housing through simplification of regulatory requirements and standardized design approaches.
The regulatory framework is being co-developed in partnership with the 11 member jurisdictions who signed up, including the City of Delta.
The Rental Housing Blueprint project was initiated in 2023 by the regional district and provincial government to streamline multi-family rental housing delivery through standardization and modern construction methods.
A regional district report notes, “The Rental Housing Blueprint project is focused on six-storey multi-family apartment buildings, a housing form with strong potential to help meet the acute need for rental housing in the region. Project objectives include reducing overall housing delivery timelines, addressing skilled trade labour shortages, and creating a supportive environment for off-site construction,” the report explains.
“Using technology and innovation, and moving towards off-site construction, there is potential to reduce the cost and complexity of rental housing delivery, while still constructing quality housing with high standards for livability and sustainability. A final draft of the standardized regulation is being reviewed by key partners, and will be presented to the Regional Planning and Housing Committees in early 2025,” the report adds.
Six-storey wood frame apartments were selected as a focus for the initiative because that form is generally cost effective, economically viable and widely accepted in the region.
The project also aims to address the skilled trades labour gap by creating an environment that encourages and facilitates off-site construction and the use of prefabricated components.
Between 2011 and 2021, only 10,000 new purpose-build rental units were added in the region, compared to 87,000 new renter households.
To help meet housing needs, Metro 2050, the regional growth strategy, highlights the importance of increasing that supply of purpose-built rental housing, Metro says.
