Numerous residents near a planned four-storey 104-unit rental apartment building on Horn Street in Abbotsford expressed concerns about issues such as traffic, parking and environmental impacts at a two-hour public hearing on Monday (March 27).
But council gave the rezoning application third and final reading, and it now moves ahead.
The public hearing occurred at the evening council meeting, and almost 40 letters had also been submitted to the city in response to the application.
The applicant is the Affordable Housing Societies (AHS), and the properties at 2910 and 2946 Horn St. are owned by Dogwood Holdings Society.
AHS plans on using Canada Mortgage Housing and Corporation funding for the project.
This means that at least 20 per cent of the units must have rents below 30 per cent of the median total income of all families in the area. As well, the total residential rental income must be at least 10 per cent below its gross achievable residential income.
Stephen Bennett, CEO of the Affordable Housing Societies, spoke at the public hearing, saying the current average advertised monthly rental for a two-bedroom home in Abbotsford is just over $1,900, while a three-bedroom house is almost $2,700.
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“Our communities must do everything in their power to create options and affordability for these families or we will end up losing them to other communities elsewhere or we place young people in a position where there is simply no way to put away money for their or their family’s future,” Bennett said.
He said rents in the proposed building will balance affordability with sustainability “as opposed to being priced to bring maximum profit to the landlord.”
Many of the residents who provided feedback said, although they recognize the critical need for affordable housing, Horn Street is not the right location.
Among their concerns was that, with more residents in the neighbourhood, traffic and parking would be negatively impacted.
Many referred to the “blind corner” at Horn and Trafalgar streets, which they say is already a safety issue.
Some said street parking is already at a premium and questioned whether the proposed project’s underground parkade – consisting of 153 parking spaces – would provide enough spots for residents and their guests.
Others were concerned about the environmental impact, including the planned removal of 47 or the 62 mature trees on the lots. The nearby Boa Creek is also a fish habitat that is “sensitive to change,” said one resident.
“We don’t want this progress to happen at the expense of our wildlife, our neighbours and ourselves,” said another.
The project’s environmental consultant spoke at the public hearing, saying the areas of concern on the property “do not provide particularly high environmental value.” He said the north side of the ravine is “mostly lawn,” while the northeast corner is mainly invasive Himalayan blackberry.
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Some residents were also concerned about the building not conforming with what currently exists in the area. The neighbourhood is primarily a 55-and-older neighbourhood of one- and two-storey buildings.
The building will consist of 35 one-bedroom units, eight one-bedroom units with den, 44 two-bedroom suites, four two-bedroom units with den, and 13 three-bedroom units.
vikki.hopes@abbynews.com
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