A new apartment building has been proposed for 9410 and 9422 Cook Street in downtown Chilliwack. Designed by Trio Architecture Inc., this five-storey development would feature 21 residential units, offering a mix of 15 smaller units and six standard-sized homes. The design includes an at-grade parkade with space for 25 vehicles, four of which would be designated for visitor parking. For residents who prefer cycling, the building also plans to provide secure storage for 21 bicycles.
Residents of the building would have access to a variety of amenity spaces designed for relaxation and recreation. These include a spacious outdoor area on the first floor, an indoor amenity room on the fourth floor, and an additional outdoor patio on the top level. Together, these spaces would offer more than enough room to meet the city’s requirements for shared amenities. Landscaping is also a priority in this proposal, with plans to plant 13 trees around the property—more than twice the number required by city guidelines.
This project is designed to contribute positively to the surrounding neighbourhood by blending modern design with pedestrian-friendly features, aiming to enhance the area while providing new housing options.
To move forward with construction, the developer is asking for several changes to Chilliwack’s zoning regulations. One key request is to allow the required common amenity space to be divided into three distinct areas rather than keeping it as a single, large 200-square-metre space. This approach is intended to create more functional spaces for residents, separating areas designed for children from those meant for adults.
Another significant variance involves increasing the lot coverage for the above-ground parkade. The zoning bylaw currently allows for a maximum of 50% lot coverage for this type of structure, but the applicant is asking to increase it to 75%. This change is necessary because geotechnical challenges, specifically a high water table, make underground parking impossible on this site.
The developer is also seeking approval to provide direct access to five parking spaces from the rear lane, bypassing the usual requirement for a dedicated maneuvering aisle. In addition, they are requesting to waive the requirement for a two-metre landscaped buffer between these parking spaces and the lane.
Finally, several setback reductions are being proposed. For the residential building, the front setback along Victoria Avenue would be reduced from six metres to 4.5 metres, with stair and elevator projections reduced even further to 3.9 metres. The parkade would also see its setbacks reduced to zero along the rear and interior property lines, and slightly reduced along the exterior side lot line on Cook Street. These adjustments are meant to maximize the use of the site while still maintaining a design that is visually appealing and pedestrian-friendly.
This project is being proposed by Trio Architecture Inc., a firm known for designing modern, functional spaces that integrate well with existing neighbourhoods. Their vision for this site aims to provide much-needed housing while enhancing the streetscape along Cook Street and Victoria Avenue with thoughtful design and landscaping.
Anyone interested in sharing their thoughts on this proposal should submit their feedback to the City of Chilliwack before Monday, January 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM.
