A proposal to build a four-plex on a street with only single-family detached houses in Burnaby’s Montecito neighbourhood will test council’s commitment to one of the quick start ideas developed by the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing.
The development proposal is for a two-storey infill multiple-family residential building with four units at 1508 Hatton Ave. The proposed design includes an accessory detached garage located at the rear of the property which accommodates four parking spaces, and one separate surface visitor parking space, according to a city staff report.
“The applicant proposes to rezone the subject property from R4 Residential District to CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM2 Multiple Family Residential District) to construct a four-unit multiple-family building on the site,” says the report. “The applicant has prepared a suitable plan of development and is ready to proceed with the next steps of the rezoning process.”
The task force developed a series of “quick start” ideas in order to increase density in the city to add to the housing stock.
“The development of small-scale family-oriented townhouses of these properties under the RM2 District is in line with Quick Start #8 and Recommendation #1 in the Mayor's Task Force on Community Housing (MTFCH) to: simplify zoning and other requirements to increase the number of homes in more neighbourhoods; and, develop a plan for introducing new housing forms and family-oriented housing in a variety of neighbourhoods,” reads the city staff report.
But increasing density in neighbourhoods that are traditionally filled with single-family homes often results in pushback by other owners in the neighbourhood so it’s easier said than done.
The proposed rezoning also requires an amendment to the Montecito Community Plan.
“The Montecito Community Plan was last updated in 1992, and envisions the twelve properties bound by Hatton Avenue, Kitchener Street and Augusta Avenue as a single land assembly to be redeveloped in the future under the RMl Multiple Family Residential District (e.g. townhouses),” reads an explanation that is part of the city staff report. “The potential for a land assembly involving all of these properties, as well as the application of the RMl District in this context, is considered to be outdated and limits the redevelopment potential of these properties. The proposed amendment to the Montecito Community Plan would accommodate the proposed rezoning to build a four-plex at 1508 Hatton Avenue, independent of a broader land assembly with neighbouring properties. It would also open up the opportunity for the other eleven properties to propose similar types of residential development in the future through a separate rezoning process.”
This project is set to be discussed on Monday at a city planning and development committee meeting that starts at noon.
