Last night, Langley City Council moved forward on two housing matters at our 7 pm public meeting. The first proposal was for a 6-storey, 64-unit apartment at 20220-20230 Michaud Crescent. The project's applicant is proposing to build 64 apartment units as follows:
43 Two-Bedroom Units
9 One-Bedroom Units
7 Three-Bedroom Units
5 One-Bedroom + Flex Units
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| Renderings of proposed 6-storey, 64-unit apartment at 20220-20230 Michaud Crescent. Select the image to enlarge. |
If you've been following apartment projects in Langley City, you'll have noticed that many recent projects did not have three-bedroom units and a lower percentage of two-bedroom units. Our parking requirements were a big driver for that.
Three-bedroom units required two parking spots, two-bedroom units required 1.5 spots, and one-bedroom units required one spot in our current zoning bylaw.
Each parking spot uses about 288 sq. ft. when considering the spot and the drive aisle. A typical 1,000 sq. ft. 3-bedroom apartment would require about 580 sq. ft. of parking; about a third of an apartment unit's cost would be for parking. In today's market, these three-bedroom, two-parking spot apartments are not financially viable to build in Langley City with private construction financing.
Earlier this year, the provincial government updated provincial law to prevent local governments, such as Langley City, from setting minimum parking requirements for housing within 800 metres of current or future SkyTrain stations. This project is within 800 metres of the future Langley City Centre SkyTrain Station. As such, the applicant proposes to provide one parking space per unit.
This project is on the site of current rental buildings. The current buildings have two purpose-built rental units, and the proposed apartment will have two replacement purpose-built rental units per City policy. Adding complexity, these current buildings have unauthorized suites which have been rented out for some time. This project is subject to Langley City's older CO-81 Tenant Relocation Plans policy, which requires moving assistance, compensation, and the right-to-return for existing renters. The City requires this policy to be applied to all renters, whether they live in an authorized or unauthorized suite. The applicant noted that they are offering an additional two months of rent beyond the two- to six-month rent compensation required based on tenancy length under the older CO-81 policy. The applicant informed Council that about half of the tenants subject to CO-81 have been relocated.
Langley City Council gave first and second reading to a bylaw to enable the proposed apartment project.
Later, Langley City Council gave third reading to a bylaw to enable a 4-unit rowhouse at 20139 53A Avenue. You can read more about this project in a previous post.
7 comments:
Having these units built without parking and the recent (why isnt it finished yet??) road construction on Michauds reduced parking, will only create more congestion on the streets. The rental units around the area have only created more people parking on the streets.
This building is within the 800 meter mark of skytrain. I was under the assumption that the min height requirement was 8 stories, and this one only comes in at 6 stories. It the requirements law or just a guide?
Council cannot deny an application that is 8-stories or lower based on height per provincial law.
Because what government wants and how Canadians live are two different things. Most people have two cars and they’re forcing you to get rid of both of them, and take transit.
The horror of being able to chose not to drive. 🥴
The developer is the one choosing to restrict parking spaces. The government is no longer forcing you to buy 2 parking spots when you buy an apartment. There is now more freedom to live how you want thanks to the NDP.
Sure would be nice to have some "car-share" vehicles in Langley City. (maybe EVs?? 😀😀). Would be nice to be able to grab on and cruise to Harrion.....
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