A revised rezoning application for the Musqueam Indian Band’s proposed mixed-use development on its 22-acre site on University Endowment Lands goes to an open house June 17.
The site, located between University Boulevard and Acadia Road, is known as Block F. The provincial government returned the land to the Musqueam under a 2008 reconciliation agreement.
An initial rezoning application was filed in September 2013 and the UEL formally accepted it in December 2013. Numerous changes have since been introduced in response to issues raised by UEL administration and through community feedback.
The 2013 version called for four towers between 18 and 22 storeys, as well as other residential buildings including three-storey townhomes and midrise buildings. The latest plan features four 18-storey towers, and buildings ranging in height from three to 12 storeys.
A four-storey 120-room hotel had been considered, but that’s been eliminated in favour of rental residential uses in the 12-storey building.
“There was significant feedback from the community with regards to the hotel and the dynamics it would create in that neighbourhood,” explained Stephen Lee of the Musqueam Capital Corp. “They thought it would benefit UBC and other uses as opposed to the community itself. Based on that feedback we made adjustments to the plan.”
The development contemplates creating about 1,250 residential units, which will attract an estimated population of between 2,150 and 2,500 people.
In the revised application, the site of the combined community amenity building has been moved to a more central location adjacent to the three-acre park and the village square. Wetlands measuring .7 acres are on the other side of the park.
“We wanted to ensure there was a lot of open space and green space, including the wetlands, which is of significance to Musqueam. It’s quite a feature of the development and to the community as well,”said Lee, who noted that in the original submission the community facilities were more spread out.
“There were two spots contemplated and the feedback was to create a heart [of the community]. We wanted to therefore bring a more central facilities to the residences, as well as to the broader UEL community. So the community amenities building was consolidated to the present site to accommodate that.”
The building will house a gymnasium/sport court, fitness centre, meeting rooms, indoor gathering space, covered outdoor gathering space, a coffee bar/kitchen and office.
While some community feedback focused on the proposed development’s density and building heights, Lee said they had to balance that with issues such as creating enough open space and park space, as well as the economic return of the project.
UEL manager Jonn Braman said the open house is designed to introduce the revised proposal to the community and comments will be accepted until June 30.
“If the community comments require substantial changes to the proposal by the applicant, that would change the length of time or the duration, so there’s no set timeline,” he said.
The UEL’s community advisory council has a working group that has been reviewing the proposal, but it only met Wednesday night to discuss the revised application. A representative from the group could not be reached by the Courier’s print deadline.
The open house runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at Norma Rose Point elementary school, June 17.
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