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City councillors are set to review and debate major changes to the zoning bylaw that would allow "modest" highrise developments to evade applying for site specific development control provisions. The urban planning committee heard a number of proposed changes to the bylaw Tuesday that aim to support additional density and development around transit hubs and revitalize declining population centres.
The rules would create a new standard for sites zoned RA9, which under the current series of regulations, only permits development up to six storeys high. The updated regulations for the zone would significantly increase the maximum allowable height to achieve 18- to 20-storey buildings. That means a development proposing a tower higher than six storeys on a lot zoned RA9 would no longer have to obtain a DC2, thereby greatly reducing the time required to permit modest highrise apartments. The DC2 condition would then only apply to proposals looking to go higher than 18 to 20 storeys, or approximately 58 metres.
Administration is also recommending giving a height bonus to developers who incorporate family-sized units into their projects. New developments that create at least eight three-bedroom units across the first ten floors would be allowed to rise an additional two storeys.
In response to community concerns that excessive commercial development would dilute residential neighbourhoods, the committee voted to reduce the proposed allowable non-residential space in a new tower from 30 percent of the total floor area to 15 percent. The committee also voted to increase the maximum dwelling unit density to 225 units per net residential hectare for sites less than 1,800 square metres.
City council is expected to consider the proposed changes at a public hearing in the coming weeks.
What do you think of the changes? Do they go too far or not far enough? Let us know by leaving a comment in the field provided below.
