Delta Mayor George Harvie has already conveyed his views on a recently submitted redevelopment application in Tsawwassen, saying he doesn’t think highly of such proposals in single-family neighbourhoods.
The application for a property at 6525 3 Ave. is for an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment to redevelop the site into a 12-unit residential development.
It would contain two, three-storey townhouse buildings with four dwellings each and two, two-storey detached garage buildings with two apartment dwellings above each.
An OCP amendment is required as it would not be consistent with the site's current Single Family Residential (SFR) designation, nor the proposed new OCP.
The planning department notes the applicant has only applied for an OCP amendment at this time, with a rezoning application, development variance permit application and development permit application to be submitted should the city’s new OCP be approved.
Council on Monday (June 3) granted preliminary approval to a set of zoning changes that will pave the way for more small-scale, multi-unit forms of housing on single-family and duplex lots, but this proposal is not consistent with those changes.
Council this spring also approved major land use designation changes as part of a wider OCP update, but the application would not be consistent with that either.
Staff are proposing to seek early public feedback on the proposal while providing a preliminary review in relation to the new proposed OCP.
During council’s discussion on the new application, Harvie asked planning staff how many housing units could be built on the property if the city’s new OCP zoning receives final approval.
Staff noted four units could be built, prompting Harvie to respond that while property owners have the right to go through an application process, it was the type of application he doesn’t favour for single-family neighbourhoods.
He said there could be even more coming forward with amendment applications that don’t adhere to the new OCP.
Coun. Dylan Kruger said the new OCP should be the standard, but now was not the time to discuss the pros and cons of the 3 Avenue application.
He also said such an application would be given the green light if it was in North Delta.
Harvie disagreed, saying the community of North Delta is also strongly opposed to over densification in established neighbourhoods.
A public information meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the South Delta Secondary cafeteria (750 53 Street, Delta).
A public hearing is also required should the application eventually receive first and second readings by council.
