7 Apr 2025 Council meeting Housing

Covenant Amendment Application No. CA19 - 6340 McRobb Avenue

Motion
That Council direct Staff to proceed with a Public Hearing for the proposed Covenant Amendment for 6340 McRobb Avenue.
Minutes, page 7
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda, whole meeting
Staff reportPage 2
Purpose
To seek Council’s direction on an application to amend previously approved Section 219 covenants at 6340 McRobb Avenue, in order to facilitate the development of a proposed multi-family residential project.
Staff report, page 2
Staff recommendation
That Council direct Staff to proceed with a Public Hearing for the proposed Covenant Amendment for 6340 McRobb Avenue.
Staff report, page 2
DocumentsStaff report about Housing, Land Use & Urban Form

Sheryl Armstrong Yes

Hemmens. Any discussion? I'll speak to it just. Wanted to say. I remember when this came before council. There was a lot of public here because. They're concerned about it, and I think the change from ownership to rental will be concerning. So I believe we need a public hearing.

Questions and answers

Councillor Erin Hemmens
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
You. Very much if no questions. Councilor Hemmons. Sorry. I apologize for the tech. I just want to understand. So we're saying that they can have more units because one of the buildings is going to be purpose built rental. But in the report, it says the applicant intends to develop building two is purpose built rental, but would like to keep the flexibility for market ownership units in the event that unforeseen circumstances impact financing for purpose built rental. So we're giving them the approval to go ahead for more units. At what point do they say this is going to be market or this is going to be rental. And where then do we kind of tease out
City staff answered
how many units they get? Yeah, a good question. And through your worship. If council is inclined to invite the applicant to speak to it as well, and I believe the applicants a delegation to. The. Item as well. But generally. Getting into. Closer to when they're doing more detailed design into building permit stage and they're looking at financing the project. There may be financing streams that are available for purpose built rental. That would make that more a viable project for them. In that case. They could choose to go up to the 296 units versus the 266. So looking at doing, if it's purpose built rental. They're going to put forward a proposal. That has. Probably fewer three, two and three bedroom units. And looking at smaller units, likely for purpose built rental. They'd make a decision when they're getting into detailed design through building permitting and when they're looking at funding for the project. Thank you
followed up
Of follow up. If I may. Just so I'm really clear, at no point would they say, this is rental and get the 296 units and then flip it and say, actually we're going to put this out to market.
A guest answered
yourself for the record, please and thank you. Thank you. Worship members council. My name is Scott Mack. I'm a registered professional planner and the managing partner for town site planning here tonight to speak on behalf of my clients and just offer. A few quick comments with regard to application. CA 19 463 40 McRawb Avenue you may recall that I was here approximately 18 months ago when council considered and ultimately approved a much more substantial amendment to the covenants registered on this property, which altered the previous plans, which were for 220 story towers and. Reduced it down to two six story buildings with roughly the same number of units. As I said, that application was approved by council as the project architect worked to refine the building layouts for the six story proposal. The owner became aware of an opportunity through CMHC to pursue financing that would allow for one of these two buildings to be built as a purpose. Built rental building. There are, as Mr. Holme alluded to, different markets for strata titled and rental units in order to make the development of a purpose built rental building feasible, the owner had to reconfigure the internal layout of the building that is proposed. Which as a result, increased the potential number of units between the two buildings from 266 units to 296 units. I will note that at 296 we are still lower than what. The original 20 story tower proposal would have supported, which was 308 units. We believe this opportunity represents a win win for all parties. The owner is able to diversify. His offering to the market. With both ownership and rental, the city secures additional much needed. Purpose built rental housing and the neighborhood, which is targeted in city plan for significant growth benefits from a broader diversity of housing options. In spite of the additional units, the overall size of the building through the detailed design process was actually reduced slightly, as Mr. Holme indicated. We were also able to increase the northern property setback. From 7.5 meters to 8.4 meters, which was concerned with the previous application. And we were still able to satisfy the city's parking bylaw requirements. Therefore, the impact of this change is essentially negligible from our perspective. To that end, well, we appreciate staff support for the request. We did note that they have recommended the council advances to a public hearing. We further note that your policy for covenant amendments identifies the public hearing. Is not a requirement and that it is at council's discretion, and we would respectfully request that council consider waiving the requirement for three reasons. One, compared to the previous application, which as noted, was obviously much more substantial. This application is much more simple and straightforward. Number two, if this was being addressed through zoning, which typically things like unit counts and densities. Are, the city would now, in fact, be prohibited from holding a public hearing as a result of recent changes through provincial legislation and three, given the scale of the project, the development permit for this project will be coming to council for consideration and appro. Approval, giving council an opportunity at that time to review and approve the overall development. In short, the owner would like to pursue a purpose built rental as part of their project. But requires a little bit of additional flexibility in relation to unit count and building design in order to make it feasible. We do hope the council can see the merits of increase in the availability. Of rental housing options in this neighborhood and will agree to move this forward. My understanding is that the development permit for the full 296 unit project is essentially ready to come to council as soon as a decision has been made on this covenant. Amendment application, and the owner is eager to move forward with the next building. As the 66 units in phase one on airing completion. If there's any questions, I'd be happy to. Address. Thank you very

Councillor Janice Perrino
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
being here. And I'm just wondering. Give me the size of. The apartments or what will be the rental units, considerably smaller than what they was originally planned. Through your
Speaker answered
worship to council Perino. The overall size of the building is similar. Like I said, it's been reduced slightly. As a result of the increase in the number of units, obviously, that's going to have a resulting decrease in the size. Essentially, that's made up through a smaller units. And secondly, a slight sort of rejigging in. The range of unit types, but in both buildings, both the strategy building and the rental building, There are still proposed to be a mix of bachelor one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom units. Okay. Are they off the top of your head? Size. I'm sorry, I don't have those. From my experience. They're very typical in terms of size and configuration to what you'd see in a lot of other either rental or strata type buildings. And to be honest with you, from a size standpoint, you would be able to go into one building and the other, and you wouldn't notice a difference. Over the course of the entire building.