One contentious development plan, two cannabis stores and a mix of other projects could make for a long night when New Westminster city council holds its final public hearing before summer break.
Along with an open workshop and regular council meeting, council is holding a public hearing on June 24. The dozen scheduled public hearings include a zoning amendment for 616 and 640 Sixth St. and two zoning amendments for cannabis retail shops.
The proposal at 616 and 640 Sixth St. is for a 29-storey highrise that includes ground-level commercial topped by a mix of strata and rental units. Some area residents have voiced concern about issues related to density and traffic, while others are opposed to the idea of having separate lobbies and amenity areas for the rental and strata residents – a move the developer has proposed as a way of ensuring the rental potion of the building doesn’t have to rely on strata owners to get maintenance done. (You can read more about it here.)
Since giving two readings to zoning amendment bylaws for the five properties being considered in the initial intake of cannabis shops in New West, the city has been waiting for the results of financial integrity and security program checks from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch before scheduling a public hearing. The city has now scheduled public hearings for zoning amendments related to cannabis retail locations at 710 12th St. and 532 Sixth St. (Some background on this process can be found here.)
Here’s a sampling of some of the other items up for discussion at the June 24 public hearings:
* 1002 to 1004 and 1006 to 1008 Third Ave.: The city has received applications for heritage revitalization agreements for the two 1892 duplexes on these sites. The proposed heritage revitalization agreement would allow the conversion of four unoccupied attic spaces (one per unit) into loft bedrooms and adjacent half-bathrooms, in exchange for small-scale restoration of the homes and legal protection of both duplexes.
* 632 Second St.: The city has received a heritage revitalization agreement application to subdivide this property into two parcels, to build a new infill house on the newly created lot and to provide relaxation of zoning provisions such as lot area, density, and setbacks – in exchange for restoration of the 1937 Pugh Residence and protection of the house through a heritage designation bylaw.
* 647 Ewen Ave.: Council will consider an official community plan amendment and a heritage revitalization agreement application related to the development of five townhouses, two of which would be within the existing 1939 Slovak Hall, which would be retained and restored as part of the application. The other three townhouse units would be created in an addition at the rear of the hall. The heritage revitalization agreements would protect the Slovak Hall.
Following its June 24 meeting, council will have regular meetings on July 8 and Aug. 26. In September, it will meet on Sept. 9 and 30, with its next public hearing scheduled for the last day of September.
