It’s a great opportunity to accommodate future needs of a new high-density community.
That’s what council and staff agreed during a recent discussion on applying to Metro Vancouver for a future new water connection to support Townline Node development plans.
Engineering director Steven Lan said the area is currently underserved for any type of future residential development and having a new, bigger watermain, even though it won’t be fully utilized for a few years, can be obtained now for a fraction of the price.
City manager Sean McGill noted it’s “not prudent at all” to not take advantage of any servicing works Metro is currently planning as it could cost hundreds of thousands to dig up a road for a watermain replacement after a housing development has started.
Metro is undertaking a major project, designing and constructing a new six-foot diameter transmission watermain from New Westminster to the Newton reservoir in Surrey.
The project is intended to meet increasing demand and address seismic vulnerabilities of the existing aging infrastructure.
The Hellings Reservoir will receive a connection to the new watermain through existing watermains located on 86 Avenue in North Delta.
The engineering department notes it’s an opportunity to also serve the Townline Node.
Delta recently undertook a planning exercise for the area, finding that as increased density is being proposed, utility upgrades will be required, including water.
With the close proximity of Metro's new main, staff recommended that a new connection be requested from Metro for Townline, which the city is eyeing for a major transformation.
Currently dominated by older commercial buildings fronted by parking lots, it’s located in the northeast corner of North Delta near the intersection of Scott Road and 96th Avenue.
Often referred to as “the triangle”, the area is bounded by the City of Surrey to the north and east, the railway line to the west and 92nd Avenue to the south.
The long-term plan is to encourage redevelopment, changing it from industrial and service uses to a residential neighbourhood with mixed-use buildings along Scott Road.
It’s anticipated that the plan will accommodate up to 2,200 new residential units with a range of heights, but predominantly six storeys with a few high-rises.
As far as the Metro watermain project, Delta council also agreed to advise the regional district that the city supports the Annacis Main No. 5 South alignment on the Delta side of Scott Road, from 93A Avenue to Holt Road, in order to accommodate a future light rail corridor.
The city will also work with the City of Surrey to coordinate the necessary road closure of 96 Avenue, between 117B Street and the Southern Rail corridor, for a four-to-six month period in 2021.
