Council recently gave the tentative thumbs up to two different apartment building proposals.
The buildings are located across the city from one another, but would add a combined 255 homes to Abbotsford’s housing stock if they get built.
The largest would be a four-storey, 143-unit U-shaped building that would be the final project in Polygon Homes’ Westerleigh development on Blueridge Drive immediately across from Rick Hansen Secondary School. The building would include only one- and two-bedroom units.
Staff recommended approval because, although the project doesn’t conform to the land use spelled out in the recently adopted Official Community Plan, it does match the zoning that predated that document. To proceed, the city must agree to extend the maximum setbacks for the building.
The other building would be a five-storey, 112-unit project on the south side of Marshall Road, just west of McCallum. Twenty of the 112 units would be family-sized three-bedroom suites – a larger-than-normal ratio. The density would be the maximum allowed at the site.
The developer is seeking the city’s permission to reduce the minimum setback and allow for amenities to be located within another setback area.
“The density, scale and built form are well suited and the increase in residential density is very well placed in close proximity to a primary transit route and within a very walkable and amenity rich neighbourhood,” staff wrote in a report recommending approval of the project.
Nobody spoke against the two proposals during public comment and hearing periods on Monday, and council voted to give second reading to bylaws regarding the two projects. To get final clearance to build, the developers must meet a variety of conditions set by the city.
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