The Shannon Mews Neighbours' Association wants so many speakers to sign up for a July 26 public hearing that city council's decision will be stalled until September.
Council is scheduled to decide on a rezoning that could see two- to 10-storey buildings erected on a 10-acre property on the corner of Granville and 57th.
"The proper way of doing it would be to say, OK, we'll have to tie it over into September because then people are back from holidays," said Gunther Schrack, president of the neighbours' association.
Wall Financial Corporation, which has owned the sprawling property that includes a heritage mansion, gardens and low-rise apartment buildings since 1967, proposed building heights last August of four to 14 storeys on the property that borders single-family homes. The proposal included 891 residential units, 200 of them market rentals, a more than five-fold increase to the 162 rental units already there.
Wall Financial and architect Busby Perkins and Will revised their rezoning application in March and again in May, finally proposing two- to 10-storey buildings, with a total of 735 units, 187 of them market rentals.
"I believe the developer simply put up an inordinately large number on the density and the height so he can come down and say, 'Look I've gone into a compromise,' and then he got what he wanted in the first place," said Schrack.
City staff recommend buildings starting at two storeys with one nine-storey building in the centre of the west portion of the site, and 706 units in townhouses, apartments and condos.
The Shannon Mews Neighbours' Association contends the proposed building density should be less than proposed unless a true benefit to the surrounding community can be demonstrated, that a maximum of 400 residential units be approved, that building heights shouldn't exceed six storeys, and that traffic and parking issues be considered along with the effect on community infrastructure before development proceeds.
Bruno Wall, president of Wall Financial Corporation, says architects recently redesigned the buildings to look better in and have less overlook on the surrounding community. A third entrance and exit on Granville Street, a left turn signal on 57th and the provision of $150,000 in case traffic calming measures are needed on neighbouring streets should alleviate congestion, he said, adding 70 visitor parking stalls would also help. Wall notes the development would offer sales of condominiums to those who couldn't afford single-family homes in the neighbourhood and homes to which the elderly could downsize. The heritage mansion would be seismically upgraded and a park created.
"There is going to be a very significant community amenity contribution payment that we need to make in and around $20 million," Wall added.
The city held extra consultation on the project but the neighbours' association remains unhappy with the planning.
Citizens' groups CityHallWatch and Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»plan to gather at city hall at 6 p.m. on July 26, before the 7:30 p.m. public hearing. They want to discuss ways to fix planning they say approves rezoning applications even though the majority of neighbours are opposed.
A well-attended public hearing doesn't mean the city will delay a decision until September. Additional dates could be scheduled before council's August break.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
