The next big Fort Langley construction project could include a small boutique hotel with a public plaza.
Or not.
It all depends on what happens over the next several months of public consultation, builder Eric Woodward said.
Woodward presented two different concepts for the 1.39 acre site at Glover Road and Mary Avenue at four public meetings attended by more than 500 people in Fort Langley on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The big difference between the two possible designs is the number of storeys and features.
The three-storey concept includes a small hotel and public plaza, while the two-storey concept doesn’t.
The question-and-answer sessions at the Fort Langley community hall were the next steps in what Woodward expects to be a long discussion with local residents about the proposed building.
“If it takes six months, it takes six months,” Woodward told the Saturday afternoon meeting at the Fort Langley community hall.
He plans to begin holding focus groups on Feb. 13.
Interested residents can register online at www.glovermarychurch.com, which also has more details about the concept proposals.
“We’re going to run focus groups with the public for as long as necessary,” Woodward told The Times.
“We’re not applying for anything (from the Township to build on the site) until that process completes.”
“I really hope people take the process sincerely, because we are taking it very sincerely,” Woodward added.
“We want to do things better, and differently than we’ve seen in the past.”
The concepts presented are as follows:
Two storeys:
Required parking provided mostly underground, a higher residential density, apartments of smaller unit sizes and only ground level retail on Glover Road.
Fifty residential units in all, with 10 on Glover Road on the second floor, and 40 on Church Street, Mary Avenue, and the south property line.
Five retail stores on Glover Road, two on Mary Avenue.
Building height on Glover Road is 30’1” for all Glover Road frontage, which is level.
There are 102 parking stalls, four more than required, 92 located underground.
Requires rezoning and community plan amendment.
Three storeys:
Boutique hotel, courtyard plaza, live/work studios, larger setbacks on Church Street, 40 extra parking stalls (166 in all), offices, public washrooms, and a greater variety of residential options, from townhouses to small studios.
Boutique hotel would have 28 rooms and “a small, intimate lobby bar.”
Parking stalls enclosed within the building.
Building height on Glover Road from 38’10”, to 41’1”, and 43’6” on three different façades.
“Significant residential variety:” larger than typical apartments, two with rooftop decks, smaller studios on Mary Avenue.
Courtyard plaza, family play area and outdoor performance space accessible by 20’ wide breezeway and staircase plus dedicated elevator and public washrooms.
Both versions:
Corner restaurant with sidewalk patio located on private property.
No vehicle access on Church Street to reduce traffic.
Six driveways are replaced with one.
No retail stores or restaurants located on Church Street, as requested by residents.
More details here.
