A pair of adjacent townhouse development proposals along Ladner Trunk Road were given preliminary approval by Delta council last week.
The developments, if approved following public hearings, would see 28 units constructed in the 5400-block of the busy roadway.
One of the developments at the corner of 54A Street and Ladner Trunk would see four townhouses built.
The property is the site of the historic Draney Residence which is to be fully restored, relocated within the property and used as a single-family home.
Built in 1927, the English Cottage-style house was one of the first homes built as part of the Delta Manor area development. It’s currently listed as being in poor condition and in need of extensive restoration, including a new foundation.
Civic staff recommended the owner enter into a no-build covenant to ensure that before any construction occurs, the restoration works are completed and an occupancy permit obtained. A staff report notes the owner indicated that a no-build covenant would extend the time required to complete the project and complicate construction phasing, thereby impacting the viability of the development. As an alternative, the owner proposed entering into a covenant that requires withholding occupancy permits for the townhouses until restoration of the Draney Residence.
Council didn’t go along with that compromise after CAO George Harvie warned there were many examples of heritage structures that were supposed to be restored “taking a back seat” with developers only interested in building and selling their new housing.
The other development, where three older houses front Ladner Trunk Road, would see the existing houses demolished to make way for 20 rental townhouses and four garden apartments.
