Delta council last week agreed to grant a development permit as well as a variance permit for a large new industrial building.
The development will be comprised of three consolidated properties at 10064, 10075 and 10104 River Rd, as well as a portion of Main Street that is proposed to be closed.
The industrial properties were previously part of the Delta Cedar Specialties office, sawmill and lumber yard operation.
The owner, Conwest (Nordel) GP Ltd, is proposing to redevelop approximately 3.5 acres of the nine-acre site into a 211,504-square-foot multi-tenant industrial building at the corner of River Road and Nordel Way.
The remaining area of the site north of River Road would continue to be used for the Delta Cedar Specialties operations.
The city’s planning department notes that the owner has made an offer to the city to purchase an adjacent unconstructed portion of Main Street to consolidate it with their properties which, if approved, would negate the need for the variances post consolidation.
The planning department also notes that the closure would require a road closure bylaw to be brought forward separately for council’s consideration, and the road closure and sale would be subject to public notice in accordance with the Community Charter.
Supporting the variance application, Coun. Dylan Kruger said much as been said about the region’s housing crises, but not enough when it comes to the industrial land crises.
He noted Mayor George Harvie had chaired Metro Vancouver’s Industrial Lands Strategy Task Force to look for solutions.
According to the Regional Industrial Lands Strategy final report, demand for industrial land continues to increase, with land values having increased significantly over the past few years and vacancy rates are at record lows.
“As a result of all these factors, the limited supply of vacant industrial land across the region is anticipated to face a worsening shortage over the coming years. With continued pressure for growth, limited options for expansion and increasing competition between other land uses, these issues now threaten not only new opportunities for growth, but also existing economic and employment activities,” the report notes.
