Concept design of proposed row housing project at 5311 20th Street in Vernon. (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Rezoning Application

Multi-family housing project planned for Vernon’s north end

Jan 8, 2024 | 6:30 AM

UPDATE

The housing project proposed for a property on 20th Street has received city council approval, though some concerns with it were brought forward.

An application to rezone a property to allow for a 12 unit row-house development be built at 5311 20th Street, where a single family home currently sits, was presented to Vernon City Council Monday, Jan. 8.

The property in question was deemed suitable for re-zoning and the proposed housing structure, and while council was recommended to support the project, there were some concerns with the plan.

Mayor Victor Cumming indicated there could be a parking problem, as the plan only called for two spaces per unit plus an additional two visitor spots, meeting the minimum requirement, which may not accomodate residents of the property holding any sort of gathering.

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“[The proposal] assumes on-street parking [would be available]. Just pick any busy day, let’s say a birthday party for a four-year old, and there’s twelve units here, and there is two visitor parking spots, so the assumption is they would park somewhere else,” Cumming said.

“It matches what our bylaw is, I’m just saying it doesn’t solve the parking issue, the bylaw doesn’t match the need.”

Councillor Brian Guy inquired if there would be electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the site, and what level of STEP Code these units would meet, to which Matt Faucher, a planner with the City of Vernon, said the developer had not indicated if EV chargers would be installed and that the buildings would b Level 2, which is the current level required, but indicated he could follow up on those two matters with the developer.

Following the brief discussion, Council voted unanimously in favour of approving the re-zoning application.

— Original Story —

A rezoning application has been submitted for a multi-family development in Vernon’s north end.

City council will discuss the application to rezone the property at 5311 20th Street from Rural Small Holding to Stacked Row Housing Residential at its regular meeting Monday, Jan. 8.

The intent is to construct a 12-unit multi-family housing development on the site.

The property is roughly 1,813 m² in size and designated as residential medium density in the Official Community Plan (OCP), meaning it could support up to 18 units of housing.

The existing zoning of Rural Small Holdings does not align with the current land designation, with the report to council stating the location makes it a desirable spot for higher density housing.

The proposal would see three, three-storey row houses built on the property. Each of the houses would contain one four-bedroom and three three-bedroom units.

City staff says the proposal meets the parking requirements, including providing two visitor parking stalls, and staff recommend council approve the zoning application.

As per recent changes in provincial legislation, a public hearing on the rezoning would not be required, if approved, as the proposal aligns with Vernon’s OCP.