July 24 Council Notes: 6- and 8-storey apartment projects, $15 million loan, industrial zoning change, personal services businesses

As I recently posted about, Langley City completed an Alternate Approval Process for a $15 million loan to help purchase property to support SkyTrain and fund the renewal of the Fraser Highway One Way.

Last Monday, Langley City Council gave final reading to the bylaw authorizing this borrowing. The provincial government must now approve the bylaw. Once approved by the provincial government, it will also need to be approved by the Metro Vancouver Regional District Board, as all borrowing in BC is facilitated thru regional districts. This borrowing process, from budget approval to getting "money in the bank," usually takes around a year.

At that meeting, Council also gave first and second reading to a bylaw enabling the construction of a two-building, 6-storey, 171-unit apartment project at 20659 - 20679 Eastleigh Crescent.

Rendering of proposed project at 20659 - 20679 Eastleigh Crescent. Select the image to enlarge.

This project is subject to Langley City's tenant relocation and one-for-one rental replacement policies. As such, the applicant will need to provide 21 purpose-built rental units. The applicant proposes a 50/50 rental unit mix of one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 557 to 805 sq. ft. All the rental units will have air conditioning.

The buildings step down to four stories on the northeast side to help reduce shadowing on the adjacent Wyndham Lane townhouse complex.

Council also gave third reading to a proposed 8-storey, 78-unit apartment at 5404, 5406, 5408 and 5414 207 Street. You can read more about this project in my previous posts about first and second reading, and the public hearing.

A rendering of the proposed project at 5404, 5406, 5408 and 5414 207 Street. Select the image to enlarge.

Council gave third and final reading to update our zoning bylaw to allow taller industrial buildings (from 15 metres to 30 metres), up to 10% of an industrial site to have office uses, and to reduce the parking requirements for industrial buildings to 1 space per 100 m2 in the I1 zone.

Council also gave third and final reading to require a 400-metre separation distance between businesses that provide the following services: hair cuts, hair styling, hair chemical treatment, pedicures, manicures, facials, lashes, microdermabrasion, microblading, permanent make-up, waxing, laser, hydro, anti-aging, skin rejuvenation theray, shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, bio-kinesiology, hellework, polarity, reiki, rolfing, trager and other touch therapies and techniques.

As I noticed previously, existing business locations will be grandfathered to allow these uses. If a beauty/nail/hair/skincare salon or nonregistered massage establishment closed down, that location could be used for a future business of the same type within six months. Only after six months of beauty/nail/hair/skincare salon or nonregistered massage establishment being closed at a location would the 400-metre separation distance take effect.

Council also gave the final reading to update our Municipal Ticking Information System Bylaw. This bylaw is a housekeeping matter and allows for fines of up to $100 for infractions of our Parks & Public Facilities Bylaw.