Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A rezoning application sign from the City of Chilliwack sits in front of two properties on Yale Road. Chilliwack City Council is set to consider a rezoning application that would see 52 units of supportive housing for women and children built. BC Housing would fund the facility, and Ann Davis Transition Society would operate the building with support services on site.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Supportive housing

Chilliwack council to consider rezoning application for 52-unit supportive housing complex on Yale Road

Jul 16, 2024 | 8:30 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack City Council is set to consider an application at its meeting today that would build 52 units of supportive housing for women and children on Yale Road, about one kilometre east of Chilliwack Secondary.

More specifically, council members and Mayor Ken Popove will be asked today to give first, second and third reading to a rezoning application that would see critical housing built for women and children.

According to the text of a city staff report authored by planner Adam Roberts, the applicant, listed as Sarah Bjornson of StudioHUB Architects, has petitioned the City of Chilliwack to rezone the subject properties in the 46700 block of Yale Road from an R1-A (Urban Residential) zone to an R8 (Supportive Housing) zone to facilitate the construction of a BC Housing funded 52-unit supportive housing development to be operated by Ann Davis Transition Society of Chilliwack.

The development is meant to provide affordable housing for women and children with support services available on-site.

The final configuration of the lot must adhere to City bylaws and include urban frontage improvements like a barrier curb, sidewalk, bike lane and LED streetlighting.

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The applicant has submitted development variance permit and development permit applications to approve the form and character of the proposed development and vary building height, loading space and private amenity area requirements within the zoning bylaw. City staff say if the rezoning application is approved by council, these applications will be brought forward at a future date for council consideration.

Current land uses in the area include a variety of apartments, townhouses, duplexes and single detached dwellings. The subject properties are located close to several schools, Kinsmen Park on Portage, and commercial buildings located at the corner of Yale Road and Menzies Street, where Dollarama is one of the commercial tenants.

Planner Adam Roberts wrote in his report that the proposal aligns with the residential nature of the Chilliwack Proper and Fairfield Island Neighbourhoods Plan and will provide much needed supportive housing for vulnerable, marginalized people residing in the community.

“Considering this, in addition to the proximity of amenities and existing built form in the area, the proposed rezoning is considered appropriate in this location,” Roberts wrote in his staff report.

The City did receive an email of opposition from two neighbours of a townhouse complex next to the proposed development, though the email did not cite a rationale for the opposition.

“We are against this rezoning application and do not wish it to go ahead,” said the couple, whom Fraser Valley Today is not identifying. “Please let us know if there is anything further we need to do to ensure our voices are heard on this matter. Thank you in advance.”