Delta council last week gave preliminary approval for a large multi-unit residential development at the corner of 75A Avenue and Scott Road.
The development will see 285 new market condos in a sprawling six-storey complex.
The city has noted that the property is located within 400 metres of the Scottsdale Transit Exchange. Under new provincial legislation, developments at a location near a transit exchange, and under a certain floor space ratio and height of eight storeys, cannot be denied based on density or height.
The proposal is also consistent with the designation of the Scott Road Corridor under the new Delta Official Community Pan (OCP), intended for mid-to high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings.
The owner needs to satisfy several requirements as a condition of final consideration and adoption by council.
The project is one of several high-density developments along the corridor that have been approved by council over that past couple of years.
During council’s discussion on the application, it was noted Scott Road will be one of the main future development areas for the city, and that the City of Surrey is also working on a master plan for its side of the corridor.
Two years ago, Surrey council agreed to initiate planning for the Scott Road – 72 Avenue Corridor to support the planned R6 RapidBus.
In July 2024, Surrey approved the Imagine Scott Road Visioning Study.
The visioning study identifies three future neighbourhood plan areas that will be the focus of detailed planning: Townline (north), Kennedy (central) and Strawberry Hill (south).
Planning for those areas will happen independently and involve comprehensive community engagement, according to the City of Surrey.
The study document notes that, based on preliminary forecasts, the Surrey study area has the potential to accommodate an estimated 60,000-to-140,000 new residents through the development and construction of 20,000-to-40,000 new dwelling units.
“This can be achieved predominately through increasing the availability and proportional housing mix of multi-family apartment-style units. Growth within this context would take many decades to occur and remains somewhat speculative in nature,” the report notes.
The report also notes that further enhancements beyond the R6 RapidBus are required to produce a multi-modal transportation network and support the study area’s “transformation into vibrant urban neighbourhoods.”
