The public will get the chance to have its say on a development proposal at the site of a Ladner heritage home.
Civic politicians gave preliminary approval last week to a four-lot subdivision in the 4900-block of 47A Avenue that would include single-family homes as well as coach houses. The development will now go before a public hearing at the end of August.
The site is home to the Gillespie House, which was constructed in 1901 for R.H. Gillespie, an employee of Marshall Smith's store. The old house is on Delta's Heritage Inventory, but not on the Delta Heritage Register, which provides greater protection.
The Delta Heritage Advisory Commission recently voted to recommend opposing the application after applicant Howard Smid told commission members the small house is not in the right location and that restoring and incorporating old homes into new developments must be purposeful and "in the right place at the right time."
Noting that only the front 750-square-foot section of current structure is the original house and several additions were added in later years, Smid said there's an opportunity to relocate the house to a farm on 34th
Street. Delta imposed a 60-day protection order, which expired July 25. However,
the owner has committed to relocating the home to a farm, which is owned by the same owner. The property on 34th Street is actively farmed and, according to a staff report, the home would be converted to an office or used for storage.
The proponent has also offered to advertise the house for sale for $1 and has committed to contribute up to $5,000 toward relocation costs.
At last week's meeting, Coun. Jeannie Kanakos again put forward a motion to deny the application, which had been deferred after initial discussions earlier in the month.
The motion failed, however, after no one seconded it and the motion to give preliminary approval was passed after some debate.
Kanakos said she understands the intent to go through the public hearing process, adding that as chair of the heritage commission she feels an obligation to represent its views.
"I really feel honourbound to represent those interests at the table here."
While there are still questions to be answered, most at the council table agreed they would like to hear from the public.
Coun. Sylvia Bishop said she would like a firmer understanding of possible uses if the house were moved.
Coun. Ian Paton praised the owner for offering the house for sale for $1. "I'm more than willing to see this moved forward to public hearing."
