A former industrial site may revert to industrial zoning after a proposed commercial building proved not to be viable.
At its Aug. 26 meeting, city council received a preliminary report about an official community plan amendment and rezoning application for 1084 Tanaka Crt. in Queensborough. The applicant is proposing to rezone the property from comprehensive development district (1084 Tanaka Court) to light industrial districts.
“The applicant’s proposal is to amend the land use designation and zoning to industrial uses so the site can be sold to and developed by an industrial developer,” said the report. “No form of development is proposed at this time; a development permit would be submitted separately at a later date.”
The report stated the property was rezoned from M-2 (heavy industrial district) to its current zoning in 2018. That was done to pave the way for development of a three-storey commercial building with retail at grade, public assembly on the second level (a banquet hall) and office use on the third floor, plus an attached four-storey parking structure.
“The applicant has indicated that the banquet hall proposal has not been commercially viable,” said the report.
According to a staff report, the site is surrounded by commercial and industrial uses.
At Monday’s meeting, council directed staff to review the application and to consult with and seek input from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, School District 40 and 21 First Nations.
“Given the regional industrial land shortage, as documented by Metro Vancouver’s regional industrial lands strategy, further consideration of a proposal to convert lands back to industrial use in an appropriate location is warranted,” said a staff report. “The proposal could add to the supply of industrial lands in New Westminster, and the location of the subject site, with access to highways and adjacent to other industrial properties, is considered appropriate for further consideration of industrial land uses.”
