City council is supporting a rezoning application that will open the door to further mixed use residential/commercial development along 10th Avenue SW.
Given third reading at the May 12 council meeting, the application is to rezone 1490 10th Ave. SW from C3 (service commercial) to C6 (tourist/recreation commercial). Submitted by property owner Bill Laird, the rezoning of the 2.75 hectare (6.8 acre) property opens the possibility to develop a mixed use building similar to what's currently under construction east of the subject property.
"I believe that if one compared C3 to C6, the major difference is C6 allows greater height and residential, and we actually have an inquiry for a building similar to the 140 units that are going next door," Laird explained at the April 22 development and planning services committee meeting. "That does not mean it would come to pass, it just means there’s been an inquiry."
Laird noted the C3 zoning allows for car and equipment sales, and said he didn't feel "that’s what’s going to happen along 10th or that it should actually happen."
Permitted uses in the C-6 zone include retail stores and upper floor dwelling units. A city staff report explained a key distinction between the two zones is the maximum building height, with up to 19 metres supported in the C-6 zone, compared to six metres in the C-3 zone. "This height difference allows for a greater number of upper floor dwelling units," said staff.
With first reading of the application at the April 28 council meeting, staff said a subdivision application had also been received that proposes dividing 1490 into three separate lots.
Following a quiet public hearing on the rezoning, council proceeded to give third reading with only Mayor Alan Harrison commenting.
"This is exactly the kind of development we want in that place," said Harrison. "What this rezoning does from C3 to C6, is it allows it… to have housing up to six storeys above commercial."
Final reading will be subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
In 2020, the formerly 12-hectare parcel at 1490 was subdivided, with the 2.75 ha parcel along 10th rezoned to C3 to accommodate future development.
