A major development proposal that “fell by the wayside” in the economic downturn is back on the City of White Rock’s radar.
And it’s grown a little.
Originally approved (on a 4-3 vote in 2008) as an 80-unit condominium project for a 10-lot site bordered by Thrift Avenue, Goggs Avenue and Everall Street, the applicants have asked the city to allow them an additional seven residential units, the city’s director of planning and development told council last week, at the start of a public hearing regarding the amendment.
The “minor” revision does not affect the four-storey project’s height, lot coverage or property-line setbacks, Paul Stanton said. It does involve some “reconfiguration” of interior floor plans and an increase in the number of parking spaces, from 163 to 174.
Only two people stood to express their thoughts on the request.
Vin Coyne – a former city councillor – commended the architect for the project’s design, but, noting the entrance is to be off of Thrift Avenue, said he’s worried about the impact to traffic.
Thrift, Coyne said, is “White Rock’s equivalent to the Indy 500 track, as far as speed goes.”
Noting White Rock’s own rules call for lane or secondary street access to such projects, Coyne suggested that if the city wasn’t going to follow through, that it be removed from the books “so the public is not misled.”
Pointing out the loss of an 80-year-old oak tree from the site that had been planted in 1926 by pioneer Molly Goggs “and grown from an acorn sent to her from her father in England,” Coyne suggested some sort of recognition be given at the site “to the people who helped build the community.”
Traffic was also a concern for North Bluff Road resident Pat Petrala, who asked what it would take to get a traffic light installed at that corner.
“Do we need a lot of dead people on walkers?” she said.
Council gave the bylaw amendment first and second reading at their July 23 meeting, with Coun. Larry Robinson opposed.
At the time, Robinson said he believes there’s “tremendous potential” for the site.
“I just don’t think we’re reaching for the bar high enough.”
Council is anticipated to vote on adopting the amendment on Oct. 1.
