Delta council last week approved a few changes to the final build-out of the ongoing Marina Gardens Estate development to help speed things along.
The amendment in the development’s phasing plan sees a shift in the interim marina parking at 5311 Admiral Way to the north of the property so that a townhouse development on the south portion can begin sooner.
Development of the north portion won’t begin until the marina parking and office are relocated to a new commercial building to be built. Council recently approved a zoning amendment to allow a childcare facility within that new commercial complex.
The city will also require early completion of a waterfront park by Dec. 31, 2021.
Approved several years ago, the application by Captain's Cove Marina and Polygon Homes for the final phase of development will see 674 housing units (94 apartment and 580 townhouse units) in the Ladner subdivision.
It also includes 16,146-square-feet of neighbourhood commercial space and parking for the marina, a linear waterfront park, construction of a new clubhouse and maintenance building on the Links at Hampton Cove golf course.
It was a big change from an original master plan.
Located off Ferry Road on the banks of the Fraser River, the first phases of Marina Gardens were completed more than two decades ago.
Over the years several residential phases and the golf course were added.
The 87-hectare (217-acre) site had originally been approved for 1,426 homes as well as a golf course, a 220-room hotel, a marina, a neighbourhood pub and limited commercial uses.
When the revised plan was given the green light, 619 houses were constructed, fewer than what was originally planned.
The revised master plan for the final build-out also included dropping the hotel altogether.
When approved, the revised master plan was a controversial one with many residents expressing opposition, saying the development would be too dense for the area.
However, while the new final phase exceeded the maximum permitted units for the remaining undeveloped portion by 65, it will result in 133 fewer housing units overall than what had been originally approved for the entire development.
