Aoyuan International has submitted the rezoning application to develop the conceptual master plan for their 9 acre site in the Brentwood Town Centre area of Burnaby.
The site, entitled ‘the Grove’, is located at the Southeast corner of Willingdon Avenue and Dawson Street. Aoyuan acquired the site, which consists of seven parcels currently improved with older industrial buildings, in 2017 for $152,000,000.
The master plan for the site establishes general built form, maximum building heights, development densities, permitted uses, public open space requirements, and proposed subdivision and phasing pattern. A further site specific rezoning application for Phase I will come at a future date.
The overall highlights of the master plan include:
- 5 condo towers ranging from 36 to 51-storeys in height;
- 4 lowrise affordable rental buildings of 6-storeys;
- a new 1.14 acre City park;
- retail and restaurant space;
- four development phases;
- An overall max density of 2,206,557 SF;
- 20% inclusionary rental units at 20% below CMHC average per new Rental Use Policy.
The application describes the concept: “the Grove is a pedestrian-oriented community that reflects the strong urban design principles and an urban form unique in the City. At its heart is a new City park framed by a mix of buildings with a variety of uses that all contribute to an energetic heart for the community. The park is to be connected to the Dawson High Street via a central north-south pedestrian linkage that bisects the entire site from Alaska Street to Dawson Street. From east to west, Alpha Avenue will be connected to the mix of residential and commercial retail / restaurant uses on Willingdon Avenue, via an extension of Juneau Street through the site.”
The City of Burnaby’s recently adopted Rental Use Zoning Policy requires 20% of the proposed strata units as affordable rental housing. This provides 0.85 FAR offset density available under the RM4s District.
The maximum density outlined above equates to 8.35 FAR, which includes 3.6 FAR (RM4s), 1.7 FAR (RM4r), 0.85 FAR (offset), and 2.2 FAR (C9 – Commercial) subject to Council approval and individual rezoning applications for each phase.