Public hearings on hold until at least June

The City of Delta continues to shift and pivot its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week councillors received an update on major development projects and public consultation.

At Monday’s council meeting, civic politicians voted in favour of a staff recommendation that public engagement for major development projects be deferred until at least June 2020. As well, the public hearing scheduled for May 26 has been cancelled.

Staff will also be reporting back to council with approaches to resume both public engagement for major development projects and public hearings, including the use of virtual options should provincial guidelines for physical distancing remain in effect over an extended period.

At the April 6 council meeting, councillorts approved giving consideration on a case-by-case basis to waiving public hearings for rezoning applications which are consistent with the official community plan, routine in nature and where Delta has not received a substantial volume of correspondence in opposition.

“In those cases, public notice would be provided in accordance with the Local Government Act and residents and property owners would still have an opportunity to provide written submissions for council consideration at the time of third reading,” notes a Delta staff report.

The staff report notes that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the planning department has remained open for business with the majority of business functions being shifted toward and online or phone based approach. Department staff are available to answer general questions, respond to applicants, take meetings virtually and accept submission of certain plans and documents electronically.

Information on how to engage with the planning department is available on Delta’s website at www.delta.ca.

Major development projects that are underway include the following:

·       North Delta Inn redevelopment – pre-application stage

·       Delta Shoppers redevelopment (120^th St.) – pre-application stage

·       Hunter Road apartments – Public hearing TBD

·       Beach Grove Golf Course Townhouses – Public hearing TBD

·       Delta Sky high rise – public hearing TBD

·       Chestnut Court apartments – public hearing tentative June or July

·       Ladner Willows non-market rental apartments – on hold (with applicant), public information meeting and public hearing TBD

·       72 Ave. townhouses – new application under review by staff, tentative public information meeting June, public hearing TBD

·       92 Ave. townhouses – new application under review by staff, public information meeting and public hearing TBD

·       Delta Fresh warehouse/food processing facility – on hold with applicant

·       93A Ave. high rise – new application under review by staff

·       KinVillage affordable seniors housing – new application under review by staff

·       Evergreen Lane affordable housing – new application under review by staff

·       McKee House Community Care Facility – new application under review by staff

·       75A Ave. apartments – pre-application stage.