Residents will have a chance to get more information and provide feedback on a proposed 283-unit residential development application in North Delta at a pair of upcoming information meetings.
The two six-storey residential condo buildings at 7702 to 7740 119A Street would be consistent with the site's designation in the North Delta Area Plan, which is intended for low-rise structures accommodating multiple-family residential use.
However, the planning department notes the proposed density is higher than what contemplated in the designation, so an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment is requested.
That means a public hearing for the project would be required. The application is at a preliminary stage and has not gone to council for consideration.
The North Delta Area Plan was adopted in 2014, but the planning department says the OCP will be reviewed, one of the actions identified in Delta’s Housing Action Plan.
The first information meeting will be held Thursday, May 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jarvis Elementary School gymnasium. The second session will be held Wednesday, June 7, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Heath Elementary School gymnasium.
Meanwhile, while the city has been dealing with several high-density residential applications, many other applications have been seeking to increase density on a smaller scale in what has traditionally been single-family neighbourhoods.
An example is council recently receiving a report on a pair of new OCP amendment applications that have been submitted for single-family areas.
One is for a property on 66A Street in Tsawwassen, seeking rezoning and a development variance permit to increase the density required to accommodate a coach house.
The other application is for a property on Brooke Road in North Delta, seeking rezoning to permit a two-lot single detached residential subdivision.
The provincial government plans to introduce legislation this fall that will allow three-to-four residential units on land currently zoned only for single- detached homes in many areas of the province.
A recent statement to the Optimist from the Ministry of Housing noted the change will allow more small duplexes, triplexes and townhomes that fit well into neighbourhoods that are currently zoned exclusively for single-family detached homes.
