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FVRD asks Minter Gardens developer for more studies

Another public information meeting planned to look at plans for residential housing project for iconic site east of Chilliwack
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Minter Gardens in Popkum closed in 2013 and the Fraser Valley Regional District is now considering a proposal to rezone the properties and amend the OCP to allow for a residential community.

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) board of directors pressed pause on the planned redevelopment of the now-closed Minter Gardens property in Popkum asking the developer to conduct more studies.

A public meeting to discuss the proposed housing development on the 15-hectare property was held on Jan. 18 at Rosedale Traditional School.

The next step after this informal public meeting was for the FVRD to hold a public hearing, but at its Jan. 25 meeting, the board of directors decided to ask for another meeting before the public hearing.

"The applicants must provide clarification and sufficient technical reports at the public information meeting," Electoral Area F director Ray Boucher said.

An arborist report is among the further studies needed, according to FVRD communications manager Jennifer Kinneman said.

"Since there is such strong community interest in this development, it would be beneficial for the community and the developer to have the opportunity to review the results of these studies prior to the public hearing," she said.

The Chilliwack developers Ron and Harvey Haan propose to build 82 single family homes with lot sizes from 800 square metres to 3,275 square metres, as well as approximately 31 single family strata lots in a gated community for those aged 55 and up.

A portion of the existing display gardens is to remain intact as a private amenity space for the 55-plus community.

The Haans run Woodspan Developments and Haan Brothers Construction, and purchased the property from the Minter family last year.

No date has yet been set for the public information meeting.