A mixed-use development in Maple Ridge has cleared another hurdle on its way to breaking ground.
The proposed development at 12016 Dunbar Street and 22137 Dewdney Trunk Road will be going to a public hearing for rezoning after getting second reading at Maple Ridge council’s April 12 meeting.
Atterra Development Group Ltd. is requesting the site be rezoned to Town Centre Commercial from Single Detached Residential to allow for the construction of a six-storey mixed-use development at the corner of Dunbar Street and Dewdney Trunk Road. The development would include 97 residential apartment units and three townhouses as well as commercial units on the ground floor. The apartments will be a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom units.
The site is bordered by Haney Nokai Park to the north, a low-rise apartment building across Dewdney Trunk Road to the south, an empty lot and single-family residential homes to the west and Golden Ears United Church to the east.
The site is located at the edge of the city’s Town Centre Area Plan of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and is designated Town Centre Commercial.
While the project breezed through council for its second reading on April 12, it received a few questions during council’s committee of the whole meeting on April 5.
Coun. Ahmed Yousef asked if the developers had considered energy efficiency in the design of the project, including rain water harvesting.
The developers said a number of sustainability pieces had been included in the design including rain water harvesting on a second-storey outdoor portion of the building. They indicated they would be working with plumbing professionals to work out a way to use the water for irrigation.
Developers also received questions about the ground level commercial units and whether ventilation had been considered if a future tenant ended up being a restaurant or café.
The developers said they would be able to accommodate both vertical and horizontal venting if required by a future tenant.
Coun. Ryan Svendsen also inquired about parking spaces.
The proposed parking stalls exceed the city’s requirements for off-street parking. The developer is proposing 115 residential and eight commercial underground stalls as well as 21 above-ground visitor parking stalls. The 144 proposed stalls exceed the city’s requirement of 118 for this project. The 62 proposed bike stalls also exceed the city’s requirement.
During a public comment process at the end of February, just two commentors provided feedback on the project.
One commentor “strongly object[s]” and is “strongly opposed” to the zoning change from Single Detached Residential to Town Centre Commercial. In an email, they write that the development would be “out of character” for the area and would have a “negative visual impact on the neighbourhood.” They are also concerned about the “loss of light” and “overshadowing of Haney Nokai Park.”
The commentor also expressed concern about the effect of construction on the Small Steps Child Care Centre, which is housed in Golden Ears United Church.
The other commentor is the church’s minister, who had a Zoom meeting with developers.
The project will be required to meet a number of conditions before the final reading of the zone amending bylaw including receiving approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and paying $141,599.38 as a bonus density contribution.
