As we reported last week, the City decided to backtrack on proposed tower heights around Commercial and Broadway as part of the Grandview Woodland Community Plan. Now the City has responded further, by suggesting they will extend the timeline for the planning process by six months. Here is an excerpt from a motion of notice for next week’s Council meeting:

“As of July 15, 2013, 718 individuals have sent a message to Mayor and Council, noting that “the land use rezoning proposals in the ‘Emerging directions’ document and map…came as a complete surprise to the community when they were published in June 2013” and demanding at least six months more for the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan (“a reasonable period of time”) for “an open and collaborative process to discuss, debate and select preferred options with regard to these proposals.”

The site was sold in November 2011 for $15,750,000, which equates to $160 per builable SF on achieved density (assuming it is approved at public hearing).

An interesting note from the City regarding applicable CAC’s:

The Steveston “skyline” could have a slightly different look if a City of Richmond proposal gets the green light.

Changes to building height and density in the village core were due to be presented to city council’s planning committee Tuesday afternoon.

The proposal was based, in part, on public consultation, including 83 completed surveys in April and May.

According to the Steveston Village Conservation Strategy, one third of all buildings on Moncton Street are allowed to be three stories and have a floor area ratio 1.6 times the lot area.

The proposal would reduce the maximum building height to two stories and reduce the maximum density to 1.2, with exceptions granted on a case-by-case basis.

Anthem Properties is proposing to redevelop 7 single family lots between 435 and 475 Seymour River Place for a 61 unit townhouse project. The site is located in the northwest corner of the Maplewood Village Centre plan area and is designated for 1.2 FSR residential development. The development concept includes 5 separate 3-storey townhouse buildings all over common underground parking at a density of 1.224 FSR.

As the West End Community Plan is emerging, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the largest lots in the West End. There aren’t many large lots; in fact, of privately held properties, there are less than 10 of an acre or more.  Here are the 40 largest parcels in the West End, by land area (SF):

All of the above properties are improved with sizable income producing (mostly apartment) properties that won’t likely be redeveloped anytime soon; however, many of these, and many smaller lots (of which there are over 500), will see some activity in the coming years as part of the West End Plan. Here is the City’s depiction of what the West End might look like in 30 years once built out per current policy:

Contact us if you would like to know more about the WECP and where are the opportunities are.