A new affordable housing project, two major mixed-used developments, a Townline Hill subdivision and an apartment building that could fell a massive tree will all go before Abbotsford council today.
Among those, the public will get a chance to get to express their views on two of the proposals: a three-building rental apartment development on King Road, and the Maclure Road apartment building in conflict with a prominent tree.
Those public hearings will take place at 7 p.m., to be followed by council’s meeting, at which point a vote will be held on whether the two projects should proceed.
The King Road proposal got an enthusiastic welcome from council when it was first presented last month. The project would create 204 new rental apartments in three buildings near the University of the Fraser Valley. One of those buildings would also include commercial space on the ground floor. Read more here.
The proposed Maclure apartment building would create 72 units, but result in the removal of a 130-foot Douglas fir described by an arborist as of “possible specimen quality” and “an extremely large tree for an urban environment.” Coun. Patricia Ross had asked for the proposal to be deferred until council sees the draft of the city’s new tree protection bylaw, but her motion failed, with only Mayor Henry Braun and Coun. Dave Loewen supporting it. Read more here.
This afternoon, at its 3 p.m. meeting, council will decide whether three more projects will proceed to public hearing at a later date.
One project, a six-storey 60-unit affordable housing project, has been previously announced although it must still receive approval from the city. The building is proposed for Fuller Street, in central Abbotsford just north of Old Yale Road. One story of the building would provide space to Abbotsford Community Services’ Autumn House Program to house teens independently because of “circumstances outside of their control.” A staff report says rents for the remaining units will range from the provincial shelter rate of $375 to 90 per cent of market in order to “provide a variety of levels of affordability.”Read more here.
Council will also get a first peak at a major mixed-use building proposed for Abbotsford’s historic downtown. The project would see a five-storey building constructed at 2485 Montrose Avenue, south of South Fraser Way and just east of Pauline Street and Jubilee Park. The unique building would include commercial and “live/work units” on the first floor, with parking both underground and at ground level, tucked between the two banks of frontage. Propped above the commercial buildings and parking will be 108 apartment units. Watch Wednesday’s Abbotsford News for more on the project.
Finally, a proposal to subdivide one of the last undeveloped infill areas in the Townline Hill area will go before council. A developer hopes to build 61 single-family homes, while creating two zones for the potential building of a maximum of 70 townhouse units. The site is located on the east side of Townline Road, directly south of Eugene Reimer middle school. Staff have recommended the city move the proposal to a public hearing.
@ty_olsen
tolsen@abbynews.com
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