42-unit townhouse project approved for Silver Valley
A 42-unit townhouse development in Maple Ridge’s Silver Valley neighbourhood can now move ahead after council approved the project’s rezoning and development permit.
On July 28, council unanimously approved rezoning and a multi-family development permit for the 75,000 sq. ft. project at 13285 Balsam St., paving the way for nine three-storey townhouse buildings containing 42 market strata homes.
Construction can now proceed on the proposal which has been working its way through the city’s approval process since 2023. While the application originally required an official community plan amendment, council abandoned that bylaw because the Silver Valley Area Plan housing updates adopted last year now support the proposed land use.
The townhouse complex will feature 42 three-bedroom homes. Each unit will include a private yard and rooftop outdoor space. Several homes fronting Balsam Street and a future east-west road will also be designed with ground-floor spaces and separate entrances that can accommodate home-based businesses.
The project includes several environmental and public amenities. Land within the required setback along Balsam Creek will be transferred to the city for conservation, while a statutory right-of-way will create a future public trail outside the protected creek setback.
Maple Ridge will take in an estimated $828,805 through the city’s density bonus program.
The development also includes a tree replacement program that exceeds municipal requirements. Eighteen trees on the development site will be removed and replaced with 51 new trees, nearly doubling the city’s minimum requirement. An additional 13 street trees will be planted to replace 11 trees removed as part of road dedications.
Parking will include 95 vehicle spaces – also meeting city requirements – along with 91 bicycle parking spaces. Five visitor parking spaces will also be shared for home occupation use, and electric vehicle infrastructure will be installed for one parking space per unit and five visitor spaces.
During a development information meeting in July 2024, nearby residents generally supported the proposal, citing the need for additional housing. Some attendees raised concerns about traffic, parking near Maple Ridge Park and the nearby parks, and privacy related to rooftop amenity areas.
City staff, however, concluded the development would not significantly affect traffic, complies with parking requirements and includes design features to address privacy concerns.
Before final approval, the developer completed a series of conditions, including servicing agreements, road and conservation land dedications, trail covenants, geotechnical and stormwater requirements, demolition commitments and a voluntary community amenity contribution of $310,800.
