June 14th Public Hearing: 6-storey mixed-use building at 20059 Fraser Highway

Last Monday, Langely City Council held a public hearing about a proposed update to the current Official Community Plan and rezoning for the property located at 20059 Fraser Highway. The proposed rezoning would accommodate a 6-storey, 98-apartment mixed-use building with 4,198 sq. feet of ground-level commercial space fronting Fraser Highway if approved by Council.

Rendering of 20059 Fraser Highway. Select image to enlarge.

Langley City staff recommended updating the current Official Community Plan because it does not include the “Transit-Oriented Core” zoning, which is part of the proposed new Official Community Plan. The proposed new Official Community Plan is going to its own public hearing on June 28th.

The proposed “Transit-Oriented Core” zoning ensures “that development in close proximity to future SkyTrain stations and existing high-frequency transit service is compact, human-scaled, and contributes to a pedestrian-oriented built environment.” Buildings in this zone can have a floor area ratio of 5.50 and a maximum height of 15 storeys.

Ground-level view of 20059 Fraser Highway. Select image to enlarge.

The proposed building for the site will have 38 one-bedroom units, 50 one-bedroom plus flex units, and ten two-bedroom units. A coffee shop would be able to fit comfortably into one of the ground-level commercial units.

Council received an email from Metro Vancouver Regional District staff supportive of the “Transit-Oriented Core” zoning as it helps support three regional objectives:

• Focusing growth in Urban Centres and Frequent Transit Development Areas
• Developing healthy and complete communities with access to a range of services and amenities
• Coordinating land use and transportation to encourage transit-multiple-occupancy vehicles, cycling and walking

TransLink staff also send an email. She noted that TransLink supports rental buildings near transit as “renter households, particularly those with lower incomes, are more likely to use transit. Access to frequent transit lowers transportation costs and improves access to services and employment.”

As part of the rezoning, the project’s proponent proposes reducing parking from 151 spaces as required under the current zoning bylaw to 120 spaces. TransLink staff also noted that TransLink supports this as “reduced parking near frequent transit may also be a means of supporting housing affordability and would also encourage the use of sustainable modes, thus advancing shared regional goals related to transit-oriented affordable housing and sustainable transportation.”

There were no submissions from the public, and no members of the public attended the hearing about the proposed Official Community Plan update or rezoning to accommodate this building.