Plans to rezone three properties at 9543, 9557, and 9561 Williams Street to allow for a new low-rise apartment building have hit a roadblock. Chilliwack City Council recently put the brakes on the proposal, sending a clear message to developers: resolve ongoing bylaw issues before seeking further approvals.
The properties have long been the subject of community complaints, facing issues such as neglected maintenance, graffiti, unsecured buildings, and persistent squatting. Despite repeated bylaw enforcement actions and paid fines, these problems have persisted, prompting significant frustration among residents and council members alike.
Although the developer, Common Ground Consulting, outlined a property maintenance and demolition plan expected to be completed by June 2025, council expressed skepticism regarding the sincerity of these efforts due to past inaction. Council unanimously decided to refer the rezoning decision back to city staff, insisting on seeing tangible improvements and full remediation before reconsidering the proposal.
With Chilliwack facing increased pressure from the provincial government to meet housing targets, council's decision underscores their commitment to responsible development. The message was clear and firm: clean up existing issues first to ensure the integrity and trust necessary for further development in the community.
