Rezoning of a downtown property for a new affordable housing project was approved by council after a public hearing on Tuesday night (Nov. 21).
Mamele’awt Qweesome/To’o Housing Society (MQHS) and Cheam View United Church have partnered on the plan to build a six-storey “mixed use” facility, featuring affordable housing for seniors and low-income residents.
The plan is build a total of 64 housing units on the half-acre site at Spadina Avenue and Main Street, with 20 “affordable market rental” units, 33 “rent-geared-to-income” units, and 11 “deep subsidy” units.
Rezoning of the property from a C3 (Town Centre Commercial) Zone to an R9 (Affordable Rental Housing) zone was approved by council for construction on the new building, after the older church structure is demolished.
A “club or lodge” was added as a permitted use under the zoning that will be used by the Cheam View United team for their programs.
There will be 47 surface parking stalls within two separate areas, accessed through two separate entrances; bike parking and EV charging, and, landscaping including 15 trees (14 required) and a roof top patio with planter boxes.
Council heard that staff supported the requested variances, and the rezoning.
Coun. Jeff Shields raised the concern about handicapped parking, and was told the applicant was “exceeding” the minimum requirements.
Coun. Bud Mercer thanked the applicant rep, Justin Dyck for Station One Architects, who showed up at the hearing, in contrast with the absence of reps connected to the development they dealt with previously that night.
“You’ve done pretty much everything that we could have asked for,” Mercer said.
Variances were requested for setbacks, amenity areas, off-street parking, landscaping, and more.
A parking report looked at the proposed site layout, number of parking stalls (47 for the 64 units) and uses in the development, “and determined that the off-street parking provided will meet the demand.”
The club/lodge space is expected to be used by church officials for their community programs.
The plan is to build an L-shaped building for the second and sixth storeys fronting both Spadina Avenue and Main Street. The portion of the building fronting Main Street partially covers a portion of the surface parking area;
“Once the bylaw has been to public hearing, staff recommend that council hold the application at third reading pending the registration of a Housing Agreement and approval of an application for a Site Specific Exemption from the Floodplain Regulation Bylaw,” according to the staff report.
Religious assembly uses will no longer be offered and are not permitted within the proposed zone.
Coun. Chris Kloot asked about the non-conforming status of the former church after the public hearing, and was told they were awaiting a site development permit from the province, before a development permit can be issued.
“The amendment is supportable in this location due to the unique partnership between the owner and operator of the building and the need for these types of services to be provided in the community.”
The matter will be held at third reading pending the registration of a Housing Agreement and approval of an application for a Site Specific Exemption from the Floodplain Regulation Bylaw.
A development variance permit and variances were approved as detailed within the report.
Provincial funding comes from BC Housing through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, a 10-year, $7-billion housing plan.
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