The proposed 35-storey high-rise for Scott Road is overbuilt and out of scale with the surrounding area, according to members of the city’s Community Planning Advisory Committee.
The high-rise application by Arzone Real Estate Investments Ltd. and Hari Homes Incorporated for a mixed-used development, which includes a residential tower at 120 Street and 75A Avenue, has been getting a lot of negative feedback from area homeowners with letters of opposition continuing to arrive at municipal hall.
The civic advisory committee recently discussed the application that includes almost 300 units, including a couple of dozen townhouses with commercial space below. Some of the concern expressed by members included the proposal being too high and dense.
Delta already has its first skyscraper with the new Delta Rise residential tower. That 37-storey tower at 80 Avenue and Scott Road consists of more than 300 units on top and four floors of office and retail space.
Several committee members noted the 35-storey tower proposal is well designed but in the wrong location, some noting the Delta Rise is in a better location. Some on the committee also noted there is a discrepancy between what is allowed in the OCP and what is being proposed. Some also said the proposal is “unfair” to neighbouring residents who originally bought a home in the area based on the current land use designation outlined in the OCP.
Some on the committee, however, supported the proposal based on several factors including having the potential to revitalize the Scott Road Corridor, and that it will have entry-level homes at an affordable price point. The committee was told one-quarter of the units would be one-bedroom units.
The committee was also told a new traffic study is required because one was done before a new road was proposed. Some committee members expressed concerns about parking and traffic congestion, as well as a disregard of the established Scott Road nodes identified in the North Delta Area Plan.
The application has yet to go to council for consideration. A motion at the advisory committee that they support the rezoning application and that it go to council for first reading was defeated by the majority of the members.
Most of the letters of correspondence from the public is in opposition as well as a 582-name petition. A 560-name petition was submitted in favour.
Meanwhile, yet another high-rise development application for North Delta was recently submitted to the city. That application is to build a 31-storey building in the 9500 block of Scott Road. Vehicular access would be from 95A Avenue and visitor and commercial parking would be in a garage at grade, while residential parking would be located in a five-story underground parking structure.
The development application by Satish Sharma would have 220 residential units with 1,356 square feet of commercial floor area.
