Mission council was united in a vote against a development application that would bring 44 residential units and a 60-unit townhouse complex to Hatzic.
At the May 15 meeting, council voted 7-0 against moving forward to a first reading on an application to redisgnate a Lougheed Highway address.
“It’s interesting that we all seemed to have arrived at a similar place but I think it’s the decision that aligns with our strategic goals,” Mission Mayor Paul Horn said.
Horn says the biggest concern for council was the loss of potential jobs and economic opportunity that would come from a highway commercial zone converted into largely housing.
“There were also concerns raised about the sudden increase of housing density in that area as well as the traffic impacts of having a townhouse complex that empties onto the Lougheed Highway,” he said. “Council wasn’t really open to the idea of it being somewhat tweaked at a third reading or after a public hearing.”
The current commercial designation on the property requires a commercial component on the site and does not permit townhomes.
Members of council voiced their own issues with the application in a brief discussion before the vote.
“I’m concerned about the fact we’re going from a single family home on that lot to considering putting 44 residences and a 60-unit townhouse complex that all exit onto Lougheed in that location,” Coun. Mark Davies said.
Before the question was called, Horn suggested council provide city staff with guidance to go back to the developer if the submission didn’t pass to find a way to submit a mixed-use application that doesn’t compromise the property’s commercial impact.
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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