The first residential development project in the COVID-19 era is headed for a public hearing.
City of North Vancouver council voted unanimously Monday night to advance a proposal that would see two 1950s era apartments in Upper Lonsdale torn down and replaced with a five-storey, all-rental building.
Under the proposal for 2540-2590 Lonsdale Ave., Cascadia Green Development would build 64 rental units, seven of which would be offered at 10 per cent below market rates in perpetuity.
Of the new units, 30 would be studios, 16 one-bedrooms, 11 two-bedrooms and seven would be three-bedrooms.
The building would hold 42 vehicle parking spaces and 96 bicycle parking spaces.
Residents in the 25 existing apartments at the site will be given first right of refusal to sign leases in the new building when it is complete. They are also entitled to four months of notice before demolition, three months of free rent and moving expenses, and help with finding another apartment in the city.
The proposal stoked little controversy from council when it passed first reading Monday night.
Coun. Don Bell said he had some concerns about a lack of parking and access via the lane, but added he liked the unit mix and below-market rentals, the rooftop patio amenity for residents, and that it was one storey shorter than what would be permitted under the official community plan.
“Which is sometimes refreshing in terms of being adjacent to a single family residential neighbourhood,” he said. “I think this is a good project.”
It’s the first time any of the three North Shore councils has advanced a development proposal since COVID-19 made regular public meetings impossible.
Planning director Michael Epp said staff are still working on the logistics of how public engagement on the project will work.
“We'll be looking at both an online forum for engagements through our Let's Talk CNV platform and some means of dealing with call-in input during an in-person public hearing. We do expect to be able to have this live in time to receive the first public hearings,” he said.
