Delta council on Monday granted enthusiastic preliminary approval for an application by the Red Door Housing Society to redevelop the Ladner Willows below-market rental complex.
The 146 units would be in a five-storey building on Ladner Trunk Road at 55B Street.
The application has the support of BC Housing and the owner is proposing that they would continue to operate all units under three affordable rent classifications. Those include rent geared to income (50 per cent of the units), affordable market rentals (30 per cent of the units) and deep subsidy rentals (20 per cent of the units)
The site currently contains a 40-unit, non-market townhouse development, which would be demolished. All but six are currently vacant.
The new proposal follows a previous application by the society two years ago for a 150-unit, non-market rental apartment building, which was denied by council.
The planning department notes at that time, council acknowledged the need for non-market housing saying that any future proposal should consider the impacts to the immediate neighbours given the proposed increase in density.
The changes from the previous proposal include a larger setback.
Prior to the submission of the new application, members of the society made a presentation to council.
They explained that they’ve made several changes to their organization including adding new members to their board with experience in affordable housing, changes in staffing at all levels including new, experienced property managers, as well as streamlining their internal processes to be more responsive.
During council’s discussion Coun. Dylan Kruger remarked the operating grant from BC Housing would be a lost opportunity for Delta if the application didn’t proceed.
Coun. Rod Binder agreed, adding the proposal “checks a lot of boxes” including its location.
Coun. Dan Boisvert said the project will bring desperately needed housing in Delta, while Mayor George Harvie described the proposal as “very complete”, but the city will still be “way behind” when it comes to such affordable housing projects.
The application is consistent with the site’s designation under the proposed new Official Community Plan (OCP), which received third reading by council this spring. A staff report states that a public hearing must not be held for the zoning amendment as it is consistent with the proposed new OCP.
However, should the new OCP not be adopted prior to final reading of the zoning bylaw amendment for the project, an OCP amendment would be required to allow for the proposed density and height.
