Nigel Harrison voices concerns about the Development Variance Permit for 5725 Promontory Road
On September 3, 2024, Chilliwack City Council approved the development variance permit (DVP0153) and development permit (DP001615) for a townhouse project located at 5725 Promontory Road. The approval followed an intense discussion involving neighbour concerns about transparency and last-minute changes, as well as the disclosure of a potential conflict of interest by Councilor Harv Westeringh.
The approved project at 5725 Promontory Road consists of 31 residential units—22 townhouses and 9 secondary suites. Precision Building Design, the developer, requested variances to reduce private amenity areas for some units. The site includes 66 parking spaces, a landscaped area with 38 trees, and designated visitor parking. Despite public objections, City staff confirmed that the project met the density and zoning requirements established during the rezoning process in 2022.
The development variance permit (DVP0153) was required due to the developer's request to reduce the private amenity area for 9 secondary suites. Specifically, the variance reduced the required 15 square meters of amenity space to 11 square meters, with adjustments to the minimum dimensions for certain buildings. Without this variance, the developer would have needed to reduce the number of units or create smaller units to meet the zoning bylaw for the property, which could have impacted either the livability of the units or the profitability of the development. This request brought the project before Council for consideration.
At the outset of the discussion, Councilor Harv Westeringh excused himself from the meeting, citing a potential conflict of interest. When prompted by Mayor Ken Popove to clarify the reason for his conflict, Westeringh responded, "I believe the applicant is related to me. I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure that is still the case."
During the meeting, Nigel Harrison, a resident of 5697 Promontory Road, expressed his frustration, stating that the current site plan differed significantly from the one presented during the 2022 rezoning process. While Harrison initially accepted the conceptual drawings, he described the last-minute changes as unsettling, particularly because detailed information had not been made available to neighbours until just before the meeting. Harrison also noted that the scanned documents provided were not detailed enough to fully understand the changes.
Councilor Nicole Read raised the question of whether the development variance permit would have been necessary if the private amenity areas were not reduced. In response, Gillian Villeneuve, Director of Planning, confirmed that without the variance, the proposal would not have required council approval.
Concerns over communication were also brought up by neighbours, who noted they had not received the promised "Information Package." Villeneuve explained that while the City’s planners often send a copy of the staff report to affected neighbours, the information would not differ from the staff report posted on the City’s website the Friday before the meeting. She clarified that the planner was off work on that Friday, which accounted for the delay.
Councilor Jeff Shields addressed concerns regarding the "dead area" bordering Promontory Road, suggesting that measures be taken to ensure the developer and future strata are responsible for maintaining the area. Villeneuve pointed out that the City already has a bylaw requiring property owners to maintain the boulevard between their property and the road, although additional conditions could be imposed if council deemed it necessary.
Councilor Bud Mercer echoed these concerns, emphasizing the importance of improving landscaping, though Villeneuve noted that the current site plan covered only the property boundaries and did not include areas beyond.
Joel Westeringh, the developer, explained that the shift from five buildings to three was due to the site’s grade, which posed significant challenges. In response to a question from Councilor Chris Kloot about privacy screening along the south border, Westeringh admitted that no final plan was in place but acknowledged that privacy screening would be mutually beneficial for both properties.
Kloot also touched on the need for road improvements on Promontory Road, linking this to the provincial housing mandate. "As we face almost 5,000 housing starts imposed on us by the provincial government, we need to meet our housing targets and consider necessary infrastructure improvements," Kloot said.
In his closing remarks, Councilor Chris Kloot thanked the neighbours for their participation and noted that the project had been reviewed by the design review committee. He acknowledged concerns about the provincial government’s housing mandate, stressing that approval was essential to meet targets and to ensure that the City retained control over the development process. He reiterated the importance of collaboration between the developer and neighbouring property owners to mitigate concerns.
Councilor Nicole Read echoed Kloot’s sentiments, urging the developer to prioritize privacy for neighbouring properties and recognizing that the housing mandate required prompt action. Councilor Jeff Shields emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration between the property owner and the developer to address remaining concerns.
Ultimately, the project was approved, with Council emphasizing the need for open dialogue between all stakeholders as the development moves forward.
