The public will have a chance to comment on a proposed housing complex fronting the new Cascades Casino Delta in Ladner.
Delta council on Monday discussed preliminary information about a proposal to construct the housing development near the interchange of Highways 99 and 17A.
The application by Shato Holdings Ltd. would see a 153-unit residential development, including 138 apartment condos in two buildings and 15 townhouse units.
The proposal will go to consultation and staff review stage before going back to council again.
Requiring an Official Community Plan amendment, rezoning and other approvals, the buildings would be connected by an under-building parkade for residents and visitors, accessed via a new private road.
A staff report notes the applicant is also proposing to include an affordable housing component for the development whereby the owner would fund five percent of the market value per unit for a maximum of 10 percent of the total units.
Council on Monday discussed at length how the city could calculate how much Delta should receive in a parks, recreation and culture community amenity contribution.
Staff will have a consultant assist with a land lift analysis prior to the application going back for first and second readings.
The analysis is to calculate and identify the amount of increased land value if the project is approved over and above the current land value.
A staff report notes that a negotiated amenity contribution would be required based on 25 percent of the targeted land lift.
Council also retains the right to negotiate in-kind contributions, further financial contributions or other such suitable package of different amenities tailored to a specific project.
As the project proposal includes an affordable housing component, the provision of non-market housing could be considered as part of the overall community benefits package for the project, the report notes.
Coun. Lois Jackson expressed concern about negotiating for amenity packages, saying it “smacks of council selling zoning” prior to a public hearing.
Mayor George Harvie said the city has been doing things this way for years when it comes to big projects, pointing to the amenity package worked out as part of the Southlands development.
