A large mixed-use development project was moved forward by city council this week.
An Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment, text amendment and rezoning application for 1490 Cara Glen Way was up for review.
The developer is looking to construct a multi-unit residential project with commercial uses and over five acres of parkland.
The OCP amendment will change the future land use for portions of the property from Core Area Neighbourhood to Natural Areas, to allow for a dedication of 5.64 acres of natural parkland to the adjoining Knox Mountain Park.
The text amendment will create the CD29 – Cara Glen Way Comprehensive Development zone and the rezoning will change the property from the Large Lot Rural Residential zone to the Parks and Open space zone and the new CD zone.
A development plan submitted in April indicated that there would be three subzones for housing and about 60% of the site would be dedicated to the expansion of parkland.
Sub-area A would see five-storey, mixed-use apartments with ground-level commercial.
Permitted commercial uses could include a child care centre, cultural and recreation services, food primary establishments, professional services, personal services and retail.
Sub-area B would see three-storey townhouses and Sub-area C would see five-storey apartments. Both those subzones would be residential only.
According to a staff report, the developer is proposing a $188,000 payment to the city’s Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund instead to appease a requirement for an affordable and/or rental component.
Coun. Maxine DeHart asked how that number was calculated.
City staff said there wasn’t a specific bylaw in place required Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund payments and the calculation was based on the existing requirements of the zoning bylaw.
“There’s a structure and how it equates is 2% of the total number of units times $100,000. So, we applied that regulation to the two apartment buildings that are being proposed,” staff said.
Coun. Ron Cannan said he was supportive of sending the matter to a public hearing to hear the neighbourhood’s concerns about parking. Staff did say the parking will need to meet the zoning bylaw’s requirements, which is currently under review, but specific parking numbers won’t be considered until the development permit stage.
Cannan had concerns about the parkland dedication due to the steep terrain.
“It’s not really level recreational and it’s kind of rocky cliffs. Have we done an analysis of what we’re inheriting as far as potential liability,” he asked.
Staff said that the applicants have applied for a natural environment development permit, which staff will use to evaluate the safety, wildfire potential, any rock fall hazard potential.
“It is currently under review to determine proposed trail locations,” staff said.
Coun. Gord Lovegrove wondered if Cara Glen Way would ever be extended, given it is the only way in and out of the area.
Staff said there were no plans in place to extend the road and any potential extension would require bisecting portions of Knox Mountain with a road.
“At this time our Official Community Plan calls for Cara Glen Way to remain a cul de sac,” staff said.
Coun. Lovegrove asked if there were any plans for additional road decision to allow for a roundabout or other measures to address an increase in traffic in the area.
Staff said a roundabout was not planned but there was a land dedication along Clifton Road to make the road a three-lane major arterial road, which would include sidewalks, bike lanes and relocating a crosswalk to be a more direct route.
The matter was sent to a public hearing. The city’s next public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8.