Delta council voted 5-2 this evening to reject the controversial application to build a 35-storey high-rise in North Delta.
Mayor George Harvie and Coun. Dylan Kruger voted in favour of the project that would have been built at the corner of Scott Road and 75A Avenue, while councillors Lois Jackson, Dan Copeland, Bruce McDonald, Alicia Guichion and Jeannie Kanakos voted to defeat it.
The appropriateness of the project at the site, which is outside the designated higher density nodes along the corridor, was mentioned by all those opposed.
A smaller project would be more suitable there, they suggested.
McDonald described the proposal as “too much, too soon.”
Listing benefits including providing more housing options for younger people, Kruger said Delta shouldn’t be an exclusionary community based on income and age.
Saying he was disappointed to see the divisiveness at last week’s public hearing, Harvie said the North Delta Area Plan, especially for Scott Road, needs updating.
He said he will establish a mayor’s housing task force to look into changes, adding Delta needs to close the housing gap.
Homes Inc. and Arzone Real Estate Investments Ltd. originally proposed a 35-storey high-rise with 280 units, as well as 14 townhouses on site.
A revised proposal this year included a home ownership program for a portion of the development in conjunction with B.C. Housing, while increasing the number of high-rise units to 329 and reducing the number of townhomes to six.
Hari Homes said it's focused on providing affordable and attainable housing options.
