Although they praised its innovative part-condo, part-rental configuration, Councillors Gord Lovegrove, Ron Cannan, and Charlie Hodge opposed a 33-storey tower planned for downtown 琉璃神社.
Council debated a development permit for the Mission Group project at the corner of Lawrence Avenue (346) and Water Street (1551) during a public hearing on Nov. 5. Although he liked the project, Lovegrove said it was not the right fit for the area.
鈥淵ou look around this council and there are four new members for a reason, and one of the big ones Coun. Cannan twigged on, and we were reminded by one of the delegations, it鈥檚 too much,鈥� Lovegrove said.
Cannan credited the developer for the building's 鈥渉ybrid approach鈥� but also felt it was in the wrong part of town.
鈥淭o me, it seems more of an innovative workaround of the present zoning bylaw. The parking reduction may be consistent with the rental-only policy, which is a policy I don鈥檛 support and have been working to change,鈥� Cannan said.
Cannan was referring to a variance to the project that allows a reduction in parking in exchange for additional rental-only units. Of the 262 units, 89 are rental, which includes 14 bonus suites. The development is also allowed to rise to 33 storeys from the zoned 26 floors through city initiatives.
Mission Group contributed approximately $105,000 to the Public Amenity and Streetscapes Fund, one of two streams available to developers. The other is the Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund. Three residents spoke against the project, questioning a lack of affordable housing options.
鈥淲e are providing rental housing within this project鈥� In fact, the variance is asking to add more rentals,鈥� Sarang Gokhale, VP of development for Mission Group, told the hearing. 鈥淭here are always different locations for different needs across the spectrum of housing needs. There are different types of housing available everywhere.鈥�
Coun. Rick Webber asked what advantage rental-only units provided when any owner-occupied unit in the building could be rented. Staff said purpose-built rentals are overseen by the Residential Tenancy Branch, and that unregulated rentals could be subject to renovictions or owners taking their units back.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that there鈥檚 a strong benefit to the rental-only aspect, but that鈥檚 just my perspective,鈥� Webber added.
The rest of council noted that the development is needed in the downtown core.
鈥淲e need this density to support our economy year-round, and it鈥檚 exciting to see the new office tower downtown, but we need to enhance that with more people living down here,鈥� Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said.
Council voted to grant the development permit, with Lovegrove, Cannan, and Hodge opposed.
