Steveston BC Packers Site Finally to be Developed
A narrow strip of contentious Steveston real estate boasting some of the best views of the Fraser River is now set to be developed without a public hearing.
Onni Development is pushing ahead with plans to construct six buildings—up to three storeys—with fishing-related industry on the ground floor and condominiums above.
The project falls within the 1.41-hectare site’s existing zoning.
For years Onni has attempted to rezone the last of its Imperial Landing parcels to allow for more residential space and to open up the restrictive industrial zoning to allow for commercial tenants such as a coffee shop and small grocery store. But scores of residents and politicians have balked at its proposals.
The city’s development permit panel was set to approve Onni’s latest plan late yesterday. City council would have the final vote before a permit is issued, but no public hearing is required.
According to a staff report, the maritime-mixed use zoning—which primarily occupies the ground floor of all six buildings—restricts tenants to businesses such as a fish auction, workshops, laundromat, dry cleaner, maritime education, moorage, offices, boat repair and marine equipment service.
The project calls for 52 residential units atop 61,496 square feet of maritime-mixed use businesses.
Some residents have grown used to the open space and have lobbied the city to buy Onni’s land and turn it into a park.
Onni’s last proposal two years ago offered one-third more green space, cash to the city and affordable housing, but only two council members—Mayor Malcolm Brodie and then councillor Rob Howard—supported the plan.
Brodie said he never felt the concept of mixing residential and fishing-related industry was feasible.
“The whole concept to me never came together,” he said. “In the original rezoning I believed that there would not (be demand) and my belief remains unchanged.”
But Onni, which didn’t return a call by press time, doesn’t appear willing to make another attempt to rezone the land.
But Coun. Derek Dang said rezoning the site that B.C. Packers owned for many years took long nights, and now it’s time to move forward.
“We should stick with the letter of the law as it stands right now,” he said, noting the intensity of the debates. “It was really awful. There were a lot of times we were driving home at 1:30 or 2 o’clock in the morning from a meeting because it was that contentious.”
Coun. Harold Steves said he’s “quite happy” with the existing zoning.
“It’s the only concession we got out of the entire B.C. Packers zoning is that we’d have a maritime zone,” he said. “We didn’t get any of the other amenities...all that we got was a boardwalk, which is landscaping for the development.”
Steves said maritime businesses will have to be offered lower rent than commercial or retail, but he said there should be no trouble in filling the space.
The city owns the waterfront and could build wharves and docks in the future to support pleasure craft, added Steves.
Imperial Landing timeline
•December 1998: B.C. Packers rezoning application for Imperial Landing submitted
•October 1999: Application reaches third reading
•May 2001: Council approves rezoning in 5-4 vote
•December 2001: Onni buys site and development plans
•December 2003: New vision for waterfront site tabled
•March 2004: Council orders revisions to application