A six-storey apartment building proposed for Hillcrest Avenue would include a community garden and “amenity lawn” for residents, as developers target families pushed out of the single-family housing market.
The developer of the 58-unit building is seeking to rezone a property just east of Clearbrook Road from a low-rise apartment zone to a mid-rise zone. The property includes a panhandle behind an existing apartment building that the developer plans to fill with gardens, a walkway and a fenced pet area for residents of the new strata building. Elsewhere, the project would include a maintained lawn that could be used for games.
The building would include six one-bedroom units, 32 two-bedroom units and 20 three-bedroom units. That proportion of three-bedroom suites is much higher than most other apartments buildings, including both those currently existing and those recently approved for construction. Coun. Ross Siemens said Monday that he had heard many concerns about the lack of available three-bedroom apartments in the city.
The developer is also asking council to allow it to provide 10 parking spots fewer than would normally be permitted at its location. The city is being asked to vary a rule that allows for parking reductions for developments within 122 metres of a transit corridor. The building would be located 300 metres from South Fraser Way.
The staff report on the project recommends rezoning the property and granting the variance. Staff note that the developer could provide the 10 extra parking spots, but that would require paving over the amenity space.
“Staff considers the provision of the proposed amenity space over paved surface parking a benefit as it will lead to a higher quality of life and enjoyment for future residents of the proposed development,” staff write in the report.
The developer would also provide $30,000 for park improvements in the area. The project would see the removal of six trees on site.
The Hillcrest building would follow at least two other planned apartment buildings that will provide amenities for families and those seeking outdoor space. A recently approved George Ferguson Way building would include a rooftop patio, while a building planned for Montrose Avenue downtown would have an amenity space in a courtyard with a playground, picnic tables and garden beds.