Council last Monday gave tentative approval for the proposed four-storey Delta Green condo building that would be built on a pair of consolidated residential parcels in the 4600 block of 51 Street, behind the Ladner Lawn Bowling Club and across from the Ladner Pioneer Library.
It will go to a public hearing, likely the one scheduled for June 26.
The 24-unit proposal, which would have no rental units, has a target market of “new seniors” who are persons over 55 and are active, engaged and well-minded. They would be people downsizing and from single-family homes and have some equity.
Most of the debate around the council table centred on the suggestion by Coun. Jeannie Kanakos that the project should perhaps include the provision for the applicant providing some sort of community amenity, given that council had asked staff recently to come back with a report on a potential community amenity policy and that the Delta Green applicant would enjoy a significant upzoning from what’s currently in place for the site.
Acting CAO Steven Lan said it’s been his experience that community amenities have been negotiated for larger projects and that asking for something like that now, at this stage, for Delta Green would likely mean the project would have to go back and start over.
Coun. Sylvia Bishop agreed that it would be unfair to have the applicant go back now after they weren’t asked to provide a community amenity prior, saying Delta “can’t unroll the dice.”
Coun. Heather King agreed, saying she looks forward to seeing what staff bring back as far as an amenity policy, but it wouldn’t be fair to have the Delta Green left “out to dry” and be expected to provide something at this stage.
Mayor Lois Jackson warned the city has to keep in mind that whatever amenity policy it comes up with, it must be lawful, noting the city “should not be buying zoning or selling zoning.”
Some of the concerns she expressed about the Delta Green project include the increase in density, design and the removal of all but one of the 38 trees at the site.
