A public hearing on a controversial development proposed for the corner of Marine Drive and Oxford Street is to proceed Monday.
White Rock council last week gave first and second reading to zoning and Official Community Plan bylaw amendments needed to allow the Marine Terraces project to proceed.
The unanimous vote followed a presentation by architect Tim Ankenman at the Sept. 12 land use and planning committee meeting, in which Ankenman described a complex now proposed to include one four-storey apartment block, two three-storey townhouse blocks and a block of two-storey townhouses over at-grade commercial units.
It was first proposed to stand up to 15 storeys high.
Residents have voiced concerns about the project’s height since January, when the concept of building on the 1.14-acre site – encompassing 14807 Marine Dr., 1184 Oxford St. and 14818 to 14832 Buena Vista Ave. – was first raised.
The project was scaled back twice before the committee recommended in July that further efforts be made to keep heights on the two residential lots within existing zoning.
According to city staff, that condition has been met.
If passed, the OCP amendment would change the designation of the two residential lots on Buena Vista Avenue to commercial, which would increase the lots’ allowed height to 37 feet from 25; the zoning amendment would rezone the entire project area to permit the mixed commercial/residential development.
Monday’s public hearing is to get underway at 7 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting.
