A proposal for what could potentially be one of Burnaby's tallest towers - standing at 46-storeys - was withdrawn at a recent public hearing held in council's chambers.
On March 19, three rezonings were up for public input, except for the highrise proposed for Gilmore Ave. with a three-storey townhouse podium facing Halifax Street and a two-storey residential amenity podium that included a rooftop swimming pool.
Coun. Colleen Jordan, who attended the public hearing, said she could not comment on why the proposed tower was withdrawn.
Now the proposal is in limbo - it will either go to a future public hearing with changes or not go ahead at all.
The site's developer is Millenium Development, which has also developed 10 other highrises in the city, including Mayfair Place, Belvedere and One University Crescent in the SFU community.
The award-winning company also designed and built the Olympic Village Community in Vancouver covering 25 acres with 21 multi-storey buildings and 70,000 square feet of retail space. It served as the Athletes' Village during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
According to a planning and building report from the Feb. 25 council meeting, the site is made up of three lots on Gilmore, which are currently zoned under the manufacturing and industrial district zoning. A deli and sausage manufacturer, a vacant car lot and an auto body repair shop occupy the lots now.
If the proposal went through public hearing and had been later approved by council, it would have been designated for a high-density, multiple family development part of the Brentwood Town Centre Development Plan.
Under the density bonus program, about $6.5 million would have been given to the city as a cash-in-lieu contribution for use toward a future community amenity - if the proposal was approved.
Jordan pointed out at the Feb. 25 council meeting that the developer had committed to providing the residents of up to 51 units two-zone transit passes for two years, twice the required secured bicycle parking and 34 electric vehicle plug-in stations, which would have included all necessary wiring, electrical transformer and mechanical ventilation modifications and four electric vehicles for the future strata corporation.
There was also intent to pursue green building practices by achieving a Silver (equivalency) rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
Adam Nour of Millenium Developments did not respond to the Burnaby Now's request for comment by press deadline.
For more information about the developer, visit www.milleniumdevelopment.com.
