A development application has been submitted for a 4-lot land assembly in the Norquay Village area of East Vancouver. The 17,891 SF site is zoned RM-9AN, which allows up to 2.0 FSR.
The proposal is for a 4-storey condo building that includes:
one level of underground parking containing 40 stalls and 95 Class-A bicycle stalls, having access from the rear lane.
Under the site’s existing RM-9AN zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.
Headwater Projects has applied to the City of Richmond for permission to rezone the former Cactus Club site on No 3 Road, at the Southeast corner of No. 3 and Lansdowne Road, just South of Lansdowne Mall. The site is 29,000 SF in total.
The proposed rezoning would permit the development of a new 15-storey purpose built rental development with ground floor retail. Details include:
149 market rental apartment units;
13 studios, 62 one-bedrooms, 73 two-bedrooms;
5,732 SF of ground floor retail;
a total density of 3.7 FAR;
143 parking spaces.
The project requires an OCP amendment: ” The Official Community Plan (OCP) designates the subject site as “Mixed Use”. The proposed OCP amendment and proposed rezoning are consistent with this designation. The OCP, in Section 3.3 (Diverse Range of Housing Types, Tenure and Affordability), also encourages the development of purpose-built market rental housing and allows for up to a 0.25 FAR density bonus for projects with 100% market rental housing residential use, where 100% of the units incorporate basic universal housing features, and provide at least 40% family-friendly unit sizes (having at least two bedrooms). An OCP Amendment is being brought forward in conjunction with this application to amend the Market Rental Housing Policy under Section 3.3 to introduce wording to permit additional density bonus area for new rental housing projects on a site specific basis to meet community need. Projects would still need to meet the design objectives of the CCAP. The proposed rezoning is consistent with this proposed OCP amendment. “
Belford Properties has submitted their development application for a full-city block in the Cambie Corridor Phase 3 townhouse area. The 45,989 SF site comprises seven RS-1 zoned lots on the South side of West 28th Avenue between Ash and Heather Streets.
The lots were previously rezoned to RM-8A and consolidated into one lot. The proposal for the block consists of:
a proposed height of approximately 38 feet for front and approximately 28 feet for rear buildings; and
one level of underground parking providing 63 parking spaces, having vehicular access from the lane.
The application describes the design rationale: ” The development consists of 9 blocks arranged around a courtyard the blocks are arranged such that none of the building widths exceed 27m. While the zoning guidelines would allow for building depths of up to 14.2m we have opted for wider units with decreased depth in order to maximize access to daylight and ventilation within the units as well as provide a more generous courtyard.
Section 2.6.3 of the zoning guidelines recommends a minimum courtyard width of 7.3m, and this proposal achieves a courtyard width which varies between 9.3m and 9.9m. The individual buildings are further broken down by individually rotating each townhouse by 3 degrees and by Design Approach allowing the ground floor level for each block to step down with the sloping site. This allows for a strong expression of distinct units which is further emphasized by the use of different shades of brick, and color elements at the entrance canopies.
All units are accessed either directly from the street, or have their main entrances at the courtyard via a private patio. The courtyard can be accessed by 3 entrances along West 28th, entrances at both Ash and Heather Street as well as a 2 connections via the lane.”
Under the proposed RM-8A zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.
