Concept designs for the row housing proposed for the property on 30th St. (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

OCP, Zoning Amendments

Plans underway for new housing complex in Vernon

Feb 15, 2023 | 7:00 AM

A new attainable housing project is being planned in Vernon.

At the regular meeting Monday, Feb. 13, Vernon city council was presented with a plan for a new, 36-unit housing development on the lot across from Civic Memorial Park.

The proposed project would see 36 “attainable” one-bedroom units in a stacked row housing style complex at 3903 30th St.

In order to move forward with the project, the developer required an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment, rezoning, and development variance permits (DVPs) for the property.

A presentation to council requested the OCP land use designation be changed from ‘Mixed Use – Medium Density Commercial and Residential’ to ‘Residential Medium Density.’

Pay

Vernon's mayor and council pay going up as originally planned

5h ago

Official Community Plan

Vernon's new OCP officially adopted

5h ago

Shopping Interruption

Vernon's mall evacuated after fire alarm pulled

5h ago

The lot in question required rezoning from the ‘R2- Large Lot Residential’ to ‘RH1 – Low-Rise Apartment Residential’ and in order for the development to move forward. Under the new zoning there would still be several conditions including having dedicated right-of-way lanes; installing an offset cul-de-sac complete with curb, gutter and sidewalk; and widen the asphalt and concrete curb gutter on the east side and the sidewalk on the west side south of the development.

Administration had recommended council support the OCP amendment and rezoning request for initial readings.

The developer had asked for several variance permits involving: street access requirements, the minimum east side yard setback; the minimum number of required off-street parking spaces; the driveways, access and road frontage requirements; and the requirement to offset the cul-de-sac adjacent to the subject property.

Administration recommended council not support any of the requested DVPs.

At the meeting, council voted unanimously in favour of supporting the OCP and zoning amendments, and against the DVP applications.

Speaking with Vernon Matters following the meeting, Mayor Victor Cumming stated this project is important for Vernon as, though the price points will be determined at a later date, they would likely serve the middle-market.

“These are exactly what Vernon needs, we need more housing options in the mid-price range which provide, in this case, some one-bedroom units,” said Cumming.

“[It’s] a fantastic project. The design really matches the neighbourhood, it looks house-like with pitched roofs and it’s right there [by] obviously major off-road cycling paths, the walking path goes right there, there’s twin roads, the roundabouts or the figure-eight as some people call it, access to bussing, access to employers here in the downtown and almost right across the street from a significant park.”

Public hearings for this project will be scheduled for a later date.