Mayor George Harvie is wasting no time delivering on a pledge to look at allowing even higher density residential developments on Scott Road corridor.
In a news release issued yesterday, the city announced Harvie has asked staff to prepare a housing action task force report for council’s consideration.
The Mayor’s Housing Action Task Force will focus on reviewing the North Delta Area Plan’s Scott Road corridor section in particular.
“My vision is to give assurance to the North Delta residential community that Delta has a current plan that will not be subject to ongoing significant development applications. This will also provide certainty for the development community by providing assurances about where much needed housing can be built along the Scott Road corridor,” Harvie stated.
As the Hari Homes 35 storey high-rise application for Scott Road at 75A Avenue was going down to a 5-2 defeat vote at council on Monday, Harvie, who was in favour of the proposal, said he wanted to establish a new task force for the corridor.
He noted he spoke about the need for affordable housing choices in the community to support young families and seniors, helping keep generations together in North Delta.
The task force will be structured to effectively utilize the results of Delta’s housing needs assessment, which received a high level of engagement from stakeholders and the community this fall, according to the city, adding the task force will also be a key part of the Housing Action Plan related to the Scott Road corridor.
The city is currently undertaking the ground work to develop a new housing action plan that is to be completed next year.
During the public hearing on the 75A high-rise plan, many who spoke in opposition said the city should adhere to the area plan, which was approved about four years ago.
During this week’s vote, several councillors made note of the area plan, also noting the Hari Homes proposal was a good one but at the wrong location.
Harvie at this week’s council meeting noted he was disappointed to see the bitter divisiveness at the public hearing. He’s hoping to have a plan that helps to bring the community together.
During last year’s municipal election campaign, he said Scott Road was “ripe for redevelopment” for new forms of housing.
Another high-rise application, which would see a 32-storey building constructed in the 9500 block of Scott Road, is currently on hold.
That application by Satish Sharma would see 224 residential units with 1,356 square feet of commercial floor area.
Delta already got 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.
