Residents for and against a 12-storey project proposed for Vidal Street packed White Rock city hall to overflowing Monday.
Of the nearly two dozen who spoke, more than half – including a number who currently call the site home and the project’s architects – voiced support, describing the concrete residential complex as an attractive, responsible one that will help revitalize the city.
“This is the kind of project that will put White Rock on the map,” said Judy Tallas. “This building will be the prototype for future projects… a project that will set a precedent for White Rock’s growth.”
Opponents argued its height and density are inappropriate for the neighbourhood, and cited impacts to views, property values and a lack of infrastructure.
“Large density in what I would not call a large downtown core is not reasonable,” said Bill Baxter, whose Blackwood Street condo backs onto Vidal.
Twelve storeys “will impact greatly on what sunlight we get now.”
Eyed for 1467-1519 Vidal St., the project includes 12 townhouse units and 97 apartments, underground parking and public greenspace. To proceed, amendments are required to the city’s Official Community Plan and a zoning bylaw; a land-use discharge bylaw is also required.
City staff in March recommended rejecting the project based on concerns with the proposed heights and densities for the area, the loss of mature trees that would result, the potential for traffic increase and the necessary relocation of a dedicated, city-owned pathway.
Council moved it to public hearing with a 4-2 vote on March 25. Coun. Al Campbell and Mayor Wayne Baldwin opposed the move; Coun. Helen Fathers, who had voiced opposition to the project at the March 11 land-use committee meeting, was absent.
Interestingly, supporters Monday included some who had criticized the 2005 approval of Bosa Properties’ Miramar Village project, one predicting it would be “the single biggest mistake ever made by White Rock’s city government.” Jean Kromm, who voiced concern at that time about the pace of development in the city, described the Vidal project as “one that you should be very seriously looking at approving.”
A resident of the property where the Vidal project would be built, Kromm noted there are already eight- and 12-storey projects nearby, and that Douglas firs that would be removed in the process currently pose a hazard due to topping done 20 years ago.
On the flip side, at least one opponent of the Vidal project was a Bosa supporter. Former city councillor Matt Todd was among those who voted in favour of the Miramar Village project.
Acknowledging he is known not to fear density and height, Todd said Vidal Street is “not designed, is not a good host, for the kind of traffic” the proposed project will generate.
“This is a great project. If it were two or three blocks east, it would be fantastic,” Todd said.
Vidal Street resident Fiona MacDermid filed a 96-signature petition against the project. City clerk Tracey Arthur noted correspondence the city had already received included 119 notices of support and 56 notices of opposition.
Council is expected to consider the requested amendments at its next regular meeting, set for May 13, however, the agenda has not yet been confirmed.