Residents will get a chance to have their say on a townhouse proposal across the street from South Delta Secondary.
A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 27 at Delta Municipal Hall to hear a proposal to build 37 townhomes at the corner of 53 Street and 8A Avenue in Tsawwassen, a proposal that’s gone through several revisions and has been winding its way through the municipal approval process for a couple of years.
The application includes an Official Community Plan amendment, rezoning and development variance permit to redevelop several consolidated properties in the 5300 block of 8A Avenue, as well as one on 53A Street, with the three-storey townhouse units. Vehicle access would be from 8A Avenue. The proposal also involves a request from the applicant to acquire a portion of city-owned land in exchange for a portion of other land that would be consolidated with Winskill Park.
The original proposal had 38 units before being dropped to 32.
A recent report to council on the application notes, “Housing policies aim to create a broad mix of housing types within Tsawwassen and the provision of social, affordable, rental and special needs housing on an equitable basis throughout Tsawwassen.”
Noting the application is inconsistent with current land use designations, the report points out a multi-family townhouse land use designation was previously proposed by the city for the site and adjacent properties in 2010 when a review of the Tsawwassen Area Plan was conducted.
Residents came out in large numbers to oppose that plan and council backed off making any changes at that time.
“The previously proposed version of the Tsawwassen Area Plan, including the designation of the subject site for townhouse uses, was not approved in 2011 and the subject site ultimately remained under the Single Family Residential (SFR) designation. However, Council has the ability to consider land use applications involving amendments to the Official Community Plan and rezoning on a case-by-case basis, subject to a public consultation process,” the report explains.
The report also notes that, so far, 96 residents have registered support and 53 in opposition.
The public hearing next Monday is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
