North Shore workers, residents and volunteers will soon have a chance to become West Vancouver residents.
West Vancouver council unanimously approved British Pacific Properties 26-unit Rodgers Creek housing development Sept. 10 on the condition the first 30 days of sales are reserved for local residents, employees and volunteers.
Jason Wexler, BPP’s vice-president of development, announced the locals-first policy in council chambers, garnering approval from Coun. Nora Gambioli.
Noting that many West Vancouver scout volunteers are former residents “who can’t afford to live here,” Gambioli thanked BPP for including volunteers among the locals who will have access to the units.
Located just above Cypress Bowl Road, the 26 units range from about 1,800 to 3,500 square feet. Ten of the homes include basements that could be converted into lock-off suites.
Explaining that she has a tendency to “sort of cringe” when asked why council is approving development in the Upper Lands, Gambioli said West Vancouver is obligated to abide by a long-standing contract with BPP.
“We are still stuck with that original agreement,” she said. “It’s a matter of us negotiating with your company (over) what gets built.”
The project is considered a continuation of the Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan, according to a district staff report.
The Rodgers Creek plan dates back to 2008, an era when: “we were still doing nothing but building single-family homes.”
Mayor Michael Smith bristled at Gambioli’s assessment of the facts.
“Obviously, you have a misunderstanding,” Smith told his colleague.
Rather than standing by as BPP built 300 homes on the mountainside, council “did more than yeoman’s work” to negotiate a deal that resulted in twice as many housing units being built and in maintaining more than half the land in its natural state, Smith said.
Noting that council has advocated for more multi-family development, Coun. Bill Soprovich questioned staff about the need for the cluster housing development.
The development is entirely consistent with area zoning, according to district staff, informing Soprovich that the project is essentially the last of its kind in the pipeline.
The project is divided into two lots, both accessible via Cypress Bowl and Chippendale roads. While the 16-unit development would ordinarily require 29 parking spots, council granted a variance, requiring 20 stalls along with the understanding visitors can park in driveways.
Coun. Craig Cameron lauded BPP for evolving and being willing to alter what has been a “very lucrative” business model for the developer.
The “whole tenor” of the conversation between the developer and the municipality has changed, according to Cameron.
The entire Rodgers Creek area is about 215 acres between Marr Creek and Cave Creek West, above the Upper Levels Highway but below the 1,200-foot mark.
In February, West Vancouver council approved 21 single-family homes ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 square feet in the Rodgers Creek area.
Nine of the homes were built to allow for secondary suites in the basement.
