River Market is sandwiched between two major developments being considered at an upcoming public hearing.
The public is invited to comment on a number of rezonings at the Sept. 29 public hearing in council chambers, including the plan for the Larco site at 660 Quayside Dr. and the Bosa site at 1000 Quayside Dr.
The city will consider a zoning amendment for the Larco site in order to establish a master plan to help guide future development of the site. The Larco site is currently home to a parking lot between River Market and Westminster Pier Park.
The master plan being proposed for the Larco site includes a new two acre (0.8 hectare) park, three highrises (rather than the five that were previously proposed), underground parking, an extended waterfront esplanade, and mix of residential and commercial land uses, including child care and provisions for a 100 to 200 room hotel.
Last year, city officials approached Larco Investment Ltd. about the possibility of reconsidering the density and scale of the previously approved development plan for the site. The city worked with Larco to develop a new vision for the site, that proposed 1,000 residential units in five towers built on top of a three- to four-storey above-grade parking podium.
Over at 1000 Quayside Dr., the city will consider the creation of a comprehensive development zoning district and the rezoning the site, where Bosa Properties is seeking to build 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 519 residential units in two towers. The proposal would see a 23-storey and a 28-storey tower built on a four-storey podium, with townhouses built facing neighbouring residences on the 10th Street side of the site.
Representatives from Westminster Landing Housing Co-op, which is located to the west of the Bosa site, recently appeared before city council to voice opposition to the proposal.
Along with the Larco and Bosa developments, a number of other projects are to be considered at the Sept. 29 public hearing, including:
* 508 Agnes St. – New Westminster Masonic Holdings has applied to retain and restore the front façade of the Masonic hall in exchange for increased density and building height, relaxations for building with and site coverage.
* 1110 Ewen and 240 Jardine – the applicant has applied to rezone the site to allow a 32-unit townhouse development on the Queens Hotel site, and would also allow a wider range of commercial uses in the existing hotel.
* 402 to 408 Eighth St. and 809 Fourth Ave. – the applicant has applied for a heritage designation bylaw and heritage revitalization agreement, which would allow the developer to retain and restore the three heritage houses on the sites in exchange for zoning relaxations.
* 620 Salter St. – the applicant has applied to rezone the site and the adjacent 33 feet of undeveloped right of way on Boyne Street to allow a 54-unit townhouse development.
* 1026 Cornwall St. – the applicant proposes to rezone the property in order to allow the subdivision of the site and the construction of two new houses.
