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Application seeks to rezone former Abbotsford hospital lands for apartment development

Rezoning of former MSA Hospital property on McCallum Road would also allow for a park
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The city has received a rezoning application that would allow for an apartment development on McCallum Road on the former MSA Hospital property. The lands were turned over to Matsqui First Nation in 2020. (Google Street View)

The city has received an application to rezone the former MSA Hospital lands in Abbotsford for the future construction of a multi-building six-storey apartment development and a park.

The matter came before council at its executive meeting on Monday afternoon (Feb. 13), at which time it was given first and second reading and now proceeds to the public-hearing stage on Feb. 27 before third and final reading.

The property at 2179 McCallum Rd. was formerly owned by the Fraser Health Authority and operated as MSA Hospital from 1953 to 2008, when the new hospital opened on Marshall Road.

The property was turned over in 2020 to the Matsqui First Nation, whose traditional territory it was located on.

RELATED: Abbotsford lands returned to Matsqui First Nation

RELATED: Matsqui First Nation plan rental housing at former MSA hospital site in central Abbotsford

At the time of the turnover, the First Nation indicated that it hoped to build rental apartment units on the site.

The application presented to council on Monday seeks to rezone almost eight acres of the property from civic institutional to the mid-rise apartment zone.

It also seeks to rezone the remaining one-acre southwest corner of the property to the “parks and open space” zone for protection as a park.

A staff report to council says there is a need for a new park in this “underserved area.”

The report says the eventual park design will include trail connections, signage and play equipment.

The applicant, District Development Corp., has not yet submitted a development permit for the project.

But city staff estimate that the project has the potential for up to 778 apartment units, based on an average size per suite of 800 square feet.



vikki.hopes@abbynews.com

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The city has received a rezoning application that would allow for an apartment development on McCallum Road on the former MSA Hospital property. The lands were turned over to Matsqui First Nation in 2020. (Google Street View)


Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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