A proposal for 76 new housing units in Armstrong would include some that fall under the affordable housing umbrella.
The city is considering an application from Audrey Webster to create 76 new units on property at 2980 Wood Avenue. Webster’s plan calls to remove buildings on the property, then phase in a four-plex townhouse on the south side of Deep Creek, followed by construction of a 39-unit four-storey apartment building and a 33-unit four-storey apartment building, both on the north side of the creek.
“This first came to council a few months ago and we did have seven concerns which the proponent has basically satisfied,” said Coun. Ryan Nitchie, chairperson of the city’s planning and development committee.
One of the issues was council’s wish to include affordable housing units in the project.
The proponent had proposed the city buy some units at 10 per cent plus cost, but the city declined. Instead, Nitchie motioned that council direct staff to tell Webster it would like to see seven units designated as affordable housing.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Council also unanimously passed a motion to direct staff to allow the phasing of city services for the project, something not normally done on phased projects.
“This is a slightly distinct project,” said Nitchie. “There are no latecomers after the development, and it’s contained to one subject property. Given there’s issues of constructing a bridge crossing the creek in order to access the property, we thought it would be reasonsable to vary our policy and allow for the phasing of city services for this project.”
Councillors Sully O’Sullivan and Paul Britton were leery of the project being phased, but voted in favour.
“The developer needs to get phase one behind them, get that capital and move on to phase two and three,” said Britton. “I don’t have a problem with phasing in this particular case.”
If passed, the apartments would contain nine studio units, 12 one-bedroom units, 39 two-bedroom units and 12-three bedroom units.
There would be 80 parking stalls on the bottom floor of the apartment buildings. Three parking stalls would be provided on the bottom floor of the four-plex and three stalls would be provided on driveways leading to the dwellings.
The plan also includes a small playground south of Deep Creek, and north of the creek, beside the apartment building, would be planters so residents could grow their own flowers and vegetables.
Council has passed first two readings of an Official Community Plan amendment bylaw, and two readings of a zoning amendment bylaw that would rezone the property from R4 residential apartment and multi-family, CR country residential and R1 residential low density single family to a CD.2 comprehensive development – residential apartment, multi-family and four-family dwelling zone.
A public hearing on the matter is slated for March 26, at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
