Bosa Development is seeking the City of New Westminster’s official support for its waterfront development plan.
Last fall, Bosa Development unveiled a plan for the site at 600 to 720 Quayside Dr. that includes two highrises and one three-storey commercial building. On June 26, council will provide an “opportunity to be heard” about a development variance permit for the project.
The City of New Westminster worked with Larco Investments Ltd., the site’s former owner, on a master plan for the waterfront property that included three towers ranging from 25 to 45 storeys, a new park, an extended esplanade an a 150-room hotel and space for a daycare. After purchasing the site last spring, Bosa Development revised plans for the site and proposed construction of one three-storey commercial building and 43-storey and 53-storey towers.
On Monday, council will consider approval of a development permit to allow variances for building height, number of vehicle parking spaces at grade, maximum building footprint size above the second storey and a revised site plan within the zoning district.
“The project continues to propose the same height and density as in the previous report received by council,” said planner Mike Watson. “This is the formal opportunity for council to consider the variances necessary to accommodate the changes to the site plan proposed by Bosa.”
So what’s being proposed?
* Two residential towers – 43 and 53 storeys – and one three-storey commercial building.
* A 40-space child care facility in the at-grade commercial space near Begbie Street.
* Two acres of park and public open space, including an extension to Westminster Pier Park, a public plaza and esplanade space.
* Eighty public parking stalls (and 932 parking stalls for the development)
* New pedestrian connections between Westminster Pier Park, Fraser River Discovery Centre and River Market.
According to the staff report, Bosa Development is proposing to delay its construction start date until after Bosa Properties completes construction of the RiverSky development at 1000 Quayside Dr., in order to ensure that public parking is available for downtown and waterfront businesses. The current timeline suggests that piling and pre-construction works will take place next spring and summer, followed by construction and then occupancy of Phase 1 in the fall of 2021.
“Some preparation work on the site will begin before RiverSky is complete, but the applicant has committed to retaining public parking on the site for River Market use until the other parking becomes available at the RiverSky,” Watson said.
Last summer, many downtown residents complained about noise and vibration from pile driving at the RiverSky development site. (RiverSky is located on the west side of River Market and the new development will be on the east side of River Market and Discovery Centre.)
“In regards to piling driving, Bosa is taking steps to minimize the impacts on residents/businesses in the surrounding area,” Watson said in an email to the Record. “They will be using different pile types and driver technology than what was used at the RiverSky project and as a result, the noise and vibration is expected to be much less.”
The Bosa Development site is currently a parking lot used by visitors to downtown facilities like River Market, Westminster Pier Park and Fraser River Discovery Centre.
