A development permit application for a state-of-the-art, four-storey storage facility at 20986 56 Ave. was passed unanimously by Langley City council on Monday, Oct. 21.
AAA Self Storage Depot Inc. will span 50,077 square feet, on the northwest corner of the site that’s currently being used for parking and long-term vehicle storage.
While the Nicokmekl River is located just 15 metres east of the property, Krahn Engineering Ltd.’s design manager Darren Cruickshanks assured council that the structure won’t affect any of the surrounding creeks or rivers, including a tributary originating from a culvert passing under 56 Avenue.
“Our proposed development is well away from that body,” he said, also noting a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) has completed an assessment of the proposed development to comply with the Riparian Area Regulation and determine setbacks from the adjacent watercourse.
Typically, setback requirements between 15 and 30 feet would be enforced for a development in close proximity to the watermark. But with the lot being paved and contained within the asphalt area, the development has been grandfathered to allow development, explained Cruickshanks.
“Any construction is 15 metres away from the watermark of the creek, meeting or exceeding the grandfathered area regulations.”
Cruickshanks also pointed out that the building won’t disturb any of the native greens — natural vegetation will be allowed to sprawl right up to the back of the building.
“Our proposed development doesn’t plan to take down any vegetation in the area. It’s all on City land so we can’t touch it,” he said.
“There’s only one tree that’s in question but that’s a tree health concern.”
And with the proposed structure being four storeys high and in close proximity to the Langley Airport, Cruickshanks addressed the concern of possible disruption to flight patterns.
“Despite some old and outdated covenants that were placed on the property to prohibit construction over a certain height, we have since met with the airport authority and have had that covenant rewritten to permit the construction of this building for a couple of reasons,” he explained.
Several local residents who live within close proximity to the proposed development shared their concerns with council. These ranged from noise pollution and increased air traffic to parking.
Laverne Pringle, a resident of the Riverside townhouse complex in Langley City, worries the air traffic, which is right above her building, will increase if the proposed building is approved.
“It’s a safety issue, a health issue and it’s noise pollution, so I hate for this to increase flight traffic,” she said.
Debra Southam, a resident of the River Walk condominium at 20976 56 Ave., told council she is worried about the noise the development will create in the community.
“There will be some construction noise, but there’s not a lot we can do about it,” said Cruickshanks, who points out that once the construction is complete, noise will be minimal.
Depending on weather conditions, construction is expected to take between eight and 10 months.
“This facility is very sound… you won’t be hearing anything coming out of the building — it’s not a storage unit with a loading dock. It’s residents renting a locker room who come to unload their stuff and go.”
as they please.”
While the proposed development would provide 29 off-street parking spaces for the entire site, Langley City resident Paul Albrecht fears that won’t be enough.
“I’m worried about a reduction in parking – you can’t measure or predict how long people are going to be there,” he said.
“ The amount of parking on 56 Avenue is getting busier and busier all the time and I can see some turns and exit issues that should be addressed.”
Cruickshanks pointed out that since the City has no specific parking requirements for mini-storage warehouses, the standard warehouse requirement from the Zoning Bylaw is applicable.
Depending on weather conditions, construction of AAA Self Storage Depot Inc. is expected to take between eight and 10 months.
