The issue of affordable housing continues to be a hot topic in Burnaby and throughout the region, but on Monday night city council took one small step toward addressing the problem.
While eight preliminary rezoning applications were considered and approved in principle at the weekly council meeting, one in particular seemed tailor-made to deal with declining affordable rental stock in the city.
The redevelopment plan encompasses eight separate lots, including one vacant lot owned by the City of Burnaby and a lot that was previously a Petro Canada service station, according to a staff report. The properties span the northwest corner of Kingsway between 10th and 11th avenues.
The applicant, Triumph Properties Ltd., is proposing a multiuse and multifamily development that includes affordable rental housing.
“Residential units are proposed to be stratified units that would be used only as rental units,” a letter from Triumph’s president, John MacDonald, stated. “Triumph is proposing to offer the units as affordable housing and is working separately with B.C. Housing towards achieving this.”
The proposed Gold LEED development would also include grade level commercial space, the letter added.
“I just want to highlight that this particular proposal, although it’s very early in the stage of development, is coming to us as a proposal to build rental housing,” Coun. Colleen Jordan pointed out at Monday’s meeting. “With all the controversy in the press and various other sectors just now, this will be the third one that’s developer-initiated that’s coming forward.”
Jordan was referring to reports about older rental stock in the city being bought up and replaced with pricier highrise condo developments, particularly in the Metrotown area.
Councillors, including Jordan, have said in the past that the city’s hands are tied by a current bylaw that allows owners to redevelop sites as they wish, so long as rezoning isn’t required. They have also said they can only approve or deny developers’ applications as they come in – they cannot mandate that developers only build rental properties or focus on affordable housing.
Critics, including members of the Burnaby chapter of Acorn (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada, say city council isn’t exercising the power it does have in terms of rezoning applications to protect or add to rental stock.
Burnaby council approved the development plan for the Edmonds properties in principle, with the caveat that a fully developed plan be brought forward at a later date.
Council also approved plans to include the sale of the city-owned property in the rezoning process, with the city’s planning and building department working with the applicant towards a development plan, which would go to public hearing.
The price of the city-owned property at 7382 11th Ave. would be determined by the city’s legal and lands department, and the sale proposal would also go to public hearing after council consideration and approval, according to the staff report.
“We’ll see if it gets through the process to eventually end up on our desks,” Mayor Derek Corrigan said of the development plan.
