Despite a community petition and a majority of speakers at a public hearing voicing opposition, a proposed 35-unit townhouse development at 83 Avenue and 115 Street has moved another step closer to final approval.
Council granted third reading following the hearing Tuesday (April 26) for the rezoning application that would see seven, single-detached houses at the North Delta site demolished to make way for a complex that would comprise eight buildings.
Those who spoke against the application conveyed concerns about such a high-density development in the single-family neighbourhood and traffic problems that would result.
A 217-name petition in opposition to the project from 142 households had previously been submitted to council.
In response, applicant Paul Sidhu at the hearing noted a lot of work has been done to ensure the development would be a good fit for the community and that a traffic study found there would be minimal impact.
A Delta staff report notes the traffic study indicated the proposed development is expected to generate 20 vehicle trips during the AM peak hour and 24 trips in the PM peak hour. The study concluded that the impact of site-generated traffic relative to the background traffic on the adjacent road network is expected to be minimal.
Saying it’s a well-designed and sustainable development, Sidhu also noted they were careful to stick with the Official Community Plan and that there is no application to vary height and density.
Following the hearing, council voted in favour of granting third reading with only Lois Jackson and Dan Copeland opposed, both also concerned about traffic.
Jackson described the traffic in the area currently as “ridiculous” and the project as “too big, too many.”
Mayor George Harvie said he lives at Tsawwassen Springs that has 400 units with only one way in and out, but traffic issues are not a problem because people are not leaving and entering all at the same time.
Council on Tuesday also agreed to have the engineering department conduct regular traffic counts throughout North Delta and report back to council with those findings.
The townhouse application still requires final approval by council.
