The proposal to build a four-storey commercial office building next to the Chilliwack YMCA lot on Hocking Avenue is “in the best interest of the community as a whole,” according to City of Chilliwack documents.
The applicant, YMCA of Greater Vancouver Properties Foundation, is on the agenda at city hall Tuesday (March 15) seeking rezoning and official community plan (OCP) amendments for the project, as well as a development variance permit, and a development permit, according to the staff report in the council agenda package.
The proposed zoning and other changes will be considered at the afternoon council session, and if approved they proceed to public hearing on April 5 for the redevelopment adjacent the existing building.
“The applicant requests to amend the text of the Thoroughfare Commercial designation within the 2040 OCP to increase the maximum building height from 3 to 4 storeys,” the report says.
“The increase in building height will facilitate larger commercial developments to serve the growing population of Chilliwack.
“As the community grows, the likelihood of future office building construction becomes more likely, and as such, the increase in building height to 4 storeys in considered to be in the best interest of the community as a whole to reflect the urbanization of the City.”
The OCP amendment redesignating the property from “mixed commercial and industrial” to “thoroughfare commercial” is necessary to facilitate commercial redevelopment of the property, the report said. As per the OCP the “thoroughfare commercial” designation is apt for properties along Young Road and Yale Road which “serve as a commercial corridor” connecting the downtown to the Trans-Canada Highway.
Since the property is located just west of Young Road and directly adjacent to properties within the CS1 Zone, redesignation of the site is considered in keeping with the overall vision of the OCP.
The Chilliwack Y started rebuilding its main facility in 2017, refurbishing the pool and daycare areas in a $10-million rebuild. It reopened in 2019.
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