June 15, 2009 - District of Mission

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Memo
29
FILE: PRO.DEV.ZON
R06-030
To: Chief Administrative Officer
From: Deputy Director of Planning
Date: June 1, 2009
Subject: Consideration for Form and Character covenant amendment
Recommendation
That the Council resolve to amend the covenants placed.on the properties to allow the front
elevations to be as proposed on Appendix 4, to allow two storey building with a basement.
Summary of Proposal
The applicant has progressed to the Building Permit stage of .the development and there have
been enough changes to the design and general form and character of the development that
necessitated bringing the application back for Council resolution.
Background
In July of 2006, Council was introduced to a rezoning proposal to allow for a six-lot subdivision
located at the corner of Cherry Avenue and Judith Street (Appendix 1). For Council to consider
approval of the rezoning, the developer volunteered to enter into a restrictive covenant for form
and character for the proposed residences.
The intent of entering into the design covenants is to ensure that Council may make informed
decisions regarding rezoning, and that Council might have the ability to manage form and
character along this important corridor.
Furthermore, as the development progressed through the subdivision process, staff worked with
the developer to ensure that the homes for the lots that were envisioned could be built and be
liveable. To this end, staff supported numerous variances to enhance private rear yard amenity
space and reiterated the importance of achieving a street presence along Cherry Avenue
(Appendix 2).
Design Analysis
The Public Hearing presentation for both the rezoning and the supplementary variance
portrayed a streetscape with two storey buildings for which the Planning Department could
accept for the zone proposed. Attached are two slides that appeared in both presentations that
show the general form and character guidelines and the streetscape (Appendix 3).
Although not specifically stated within the reports to Council, nor the presentations to the public,
an important component to the design of the homes was the massing to which these properties
would develop. The two storey scale for which the proponent presented to staff was supported
for two very important reasons:
Firstly, in consideration of the neighbouring properties to the rear of the lane, the two storey
massing did not present an imposition.
Secondly, given that the structures would be two storeys, an illegal basement suite could not be
constructed. In fact, the presentations regarding the style of homes that are proposed indicated
that the homes were to have the main living spaces on the ground floor.
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