Among the rezoning bylaws passed in Chilliwack last week, one included a special request from the family of a 100-year-old Chilliwack resident.
It had to do with an agricultural property that was the subject of a rezoning last Tuesday, for 44490 Keith Wilson Road, which will be rezoned from
AL (Agricultural Lowland) Zone to a CD-21 (Comprehensive Development-21) Zone.
Several residents spoke at the hearing, noting concerns ranging from traffic and parking, to pond-draining and tree retention. Noise from construction trucks was also raised.
The special request from the family group was to hold off on extending Sherry Drive as part of redeveloping the western section of the Webster Area Plan.
Council agreed to respect the family’s wishes the end, and it will last as long she still lives in her home.
The staff report suggested that council could vote for a compromise on the special request:
“The City and the applicant will agree that no construction will occur on the identified portion of Sherry Drive while the current owner continues to reside on the remnant agricultural property,” said the staff report.
That will answer the family’s concerns “while ensuring that the critical connection is constructed in a reasonable time frame.”
Connecting Sherry Drive from Webster Road to Lindys Drive is a key part of the access management plan for Keith Wilson Road, according to staff. There are plans for traffic signals to go in on Keith Wilson Road at Lindys to ensure safe, efficient access and minimize flow disruption with “correct signal spacing.”
And for their access plan to be successful, the east-west Sherry Drive link is required, according to the report.
Signalization of Keith Wilson and Lindys should take a while, by 2024.
The plan by Westbow Construction Group is for a mixed residential development in four phases, with single family attached and detached homes, townhouses, and an apartment building.
