A plan to build a new townhome complex on Mount Seymour Parkway will not go ahead, at least not in its current form.
At a meeting Monday, District of North Vancouver council did not approve an application to build 46 strata townhomes at 3374–3390 Mount Seymour Parkway.
Instead, the matter was sent back to staff with council’s feedback that two plots of district-owned property should be excluded from the development. But three members of council were still opposed to the project going forward, with Couns. Betty Forbes, Lisa Muri and Jim Hanson voting against it.
If it hadn’t been rejected in its current form, the plan was to build the units across eight, three-storey buildings, with 10 lock-off suites and 71 underground parking spaces, according to a staff report.
The new development would have replaced five existing single-family homes, as well as two vacant plots bought by the district last year for $2.5 million.
The district received a detailed rezoning application for the site in 2018, which was met with public feedback regarding density, loss of trees and impact on traffic.
In 2020, the applicant withdrew their application while the district completed its review of the official community plan. Then in 2024, the developer returned with a revised application.
Staff recommended the district pass the revised plan, as it aligned with the OCP by providing ground-oriented units for families and seniors. The project is also located along a transit corridor, and close to the Parkgate Village Centre, staff said.
At the start of Monday’s meeting, several members from the surrounding community spoke against the plan.
Nearby resident Alice Hamilton said she was against selling the district-owned lots and portion of closed road allowance – which the district estimated to have an estimated value of nearly $4.8 million.
“What is the benefit to the taxpayer and the residents who live here? If the district green space lots are to be sold, they should be sold for market rental or social housing close to the bus routes,” she said.
District-owned lots should be preserved as green spaces, councillor says
Coun. Herman Mah said he was in favour of the project.
“I would generally not support selling district land,” he said. “However, there are exceptions. One, when the district cannot use it for other purposes, or when the district can strategically use the proceeds from the sale to acquire other preferred lots.”
Mah said there’s limited development potential for the district-owned lots on their own.
“I believe that the funds from the proceeds can be used strategically elsewhere to advance the district’s housing objectives,” he said.
But Coun. Hanson argued the development wasn’t in the community’s best interest.
“The project will eliminate six occupied rental units and create 46 strata town homes with 10 lock-off suites. This project will not create the kind of rental and affordable housing which is so urgently needed by our community,” he said.
Hanson added that his primary reasons for voting down the plan are environmental.
“I looked carefully at the vacant lots, and they’re an area of great natural beauty. They’re very beautiful natural spaces within our community,” he said. “I personally believe the district should preserve these lots as green space for all times and for all peoples.”
Mayor Mike Little said he was also concerned about getting fair compensation for turning greenfield lots into developments. But instead of turning down the applicant completely, he suggested sending the matter back to staff for other possibilities, such as incorporating the vacant lots differently, or adding rental.
“I think that there is still a viable project potentially on this site, but I think that hopefully we can maybe make some changes, tweaks to it, to make it more suitable for the site,” Little said.
His motion to refer the matter back to staff narrowly passed with a 4-3 vote. No date has been set for the matter to return to council.
[email protected]
twitter.com/nick_laba
@nicklaba.bsky.social
Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
