If you have thoughts on a highrise project planned at Braid and Brunette, the City of New Westminster wants to hear from you.
Wesgroup is seeking a bylaw text amendment to the comprehensive development zoning district in place for 100 Braid St., where it had planned to build a strata highrise. It now has another plan in mind for the site.
In exchange for changing the units from strata to market rental housing – and possibly providing some units at “less-than-market rates” if it receives funding through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – Wesgroup wants to increase the residential density on the site, increase the maximum building height from 65 metres (213.25 feet) to 118 metres (390.42 feet) and decrease the off-street parking requirements.
According to the city, Wesgroup has indicated 96 of the 424 units in the building would be “affordable” units, with rents being 70% of the “household median income” for 10 years, at which time they would then revert to secured market rental. The city states that the applicant would still be required to provide 395-square-metres (4,252-square-feet) of dedicated art gallery and studio space with discounted rents in the development. This means a 35-storey tower could be build instead of the 21-storey highrise originally contemplated for the site.
City council recently supported a recommendation directing staff to process the zoning bylaw text amendment application and the development permit as per a streamlined process, so the applicant can meet CMHC deadlines to apply for rental construction financing. As part of that streamlined process, community members now have a chance to have a say on the proposal.
The city is seeking comments on the zoning bylaw amendment application until Oct. 12. A survey about the proposal is found on the city’s website.
Community members are also invited to attend a virtual information and question-and-answer session about the project on Zoom on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Details about the project, a link to the survey and information about how to take part in the virtual session can be found at www.newwestcity.ca. Click on Be Involved tab and go to 100 Braid Street (Sapperton) under Public Engagement opportunities.
