A contractor plans to work around the clock for a few days to get some work done on the sewer project that’s now underway on Columbia Street.
Council has granted Oscar Renda Contracting of Canada with an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw. The exemption will allow the contractor to work on four nights from Tuesday, Oct. 12 to Friday, Oct. 29 from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 9 a.m. on Saturdays, during which time it will be able to conduct work and install new utility holes on Columbia Street at Eighth Street and at Blackwood Street.
According to a staff report, the contractor proposes to start the work on the Tuesday immediately after the Thanksgiving long weekend (Oct. 12) and to work 24-hours a day to complete the work on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Because the work is weather dependent – and to account for any unforeseen circumstances, ORCC is seeking an exemption to the construction noise bylaw from Oct. 12 to 29.
New name
New Westminster’s development services department is getting a new name to better reflect its current role.
Council has directed staff to update the city’s letterhead and website to reflect a department name change for the department. It is now called the “climate action, planning and development” department.
“In the time since the department was formed, the climate action team has been added to the functions addressed in the department,” said a staff report. “Furthermore, social and community planning have gained prominence in the work and accomplishments of the department.”
According to report, there are minimal costs to the city to change the department’s name because staff use digital letterhead and are phasing out the use of business cards except for key positions. The report stated “a strong majority” of 30 staff in the development services department who responded to a survey supported the name change and six wanted the department to retain its existing name.
Child-care proposed
A child-care facility with up to 37 spaces is being considered for a house in the West End.
The city has received a rezoning application that would allow the home at 733 13th St. to be used as a licensed group child-care facility with up to 37 spaces. It would have 12 infant/toddler spaces (for children under 36 months in age) and up to 25 three-to-five years spaces.
“The applicant, Precious Early Years, is proposing to relocate its existing child-care operations from its neighbouring leased properties at 1209 Hamilton St. and 1210 Kingston St. to the new location at 733 13th St.,” said the report. “The rationale for the relocation is that these properties may be redeveloped at some point in the future, and that this uncertainty is problematic for the operator and for the families utilizing the childcare.”
According to a staff report, two off-street parking spaces can be accommodated on the site. Because the bylaw requires six parking spaces to be provided, the applicant is seeking a variance of four vehicle parking spaces.
The report stated the application is proposing that drop-off and pick-ups of children would primarily be done through the on-site accessible vehicle parking space and on adjacent on-street parking on 13th Street if needed. The daycare is proposing to stagger its drop-off and pick-up times over two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.
While the majority of the respondents to a “request for comment” supported the project, some concerns were raised about noise that would be generated from the group child-care facility, increased traffic volumes and the use of on-street parking for pick-up and drop-off.
“To address issues raised through the city-led consultation, staff would work with the applicant to ensure Good Neighbour guidelines are followed, specifically around communication and information-sharing with child-care parents and neighbours, regarding noise, privacy, the possible changes to parking and traffic patterns, and the associated TDM (transportation demand management) measures that would be put into place,” said the report.
On Monday night, council gave two readings to a zoning amendment bylaw for 733 13th St. Council also approved a staff recommendation to waive the public hearing because the bylaw is consistent with the official community plan.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
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