Chilliwack City Council denies motion to rezone properties for 5-storey apartments; realtor accused of misrepresentation

Councillor Jeff Shields said the proposed development made a lot of sense due to the size of the lots involved, but he could not support the sheer magnitude of the five-storey apartment building.

“I know that area fairly well; I lived on Carleton Street for a number of years and I still end up around there,” Councillor Shields said. “I struggle with putting a large apartment building on that particular corner. It’s a big change to that particular street. On top of that, my opinion is it’s too large for that particular location. I can’t support it.”

Councillor Chris Kloot echoed Shields’s assessment that the development was too big for the neighbourhood.

“In reviewing some of the correspondence from the neighbourhood, I have to take a moment to reflect on whether this would be the best fit for the community and the neighbourhood,” Councillor Kloot said. “While I recognize we are in need of housing, I do wonder if this area would be better with an R4 (zone) or row houses or townhouses versus a 5-storey apartment building. I wonder if this is just a little too big for the three properties. I think in reading the correspondence we have received, there are substantial concerns from the neighhourhood with respect to the traffic, the crosswalk and the corner. I’m inclined to not support this at this time.”

Image: City of Chilliwack / Councillor Chris Kloot, pictured during Tuesday’s council meeting, also voted against the proposed rezoning application for a five-storey apartment building at Yale/Carleton, citing concerns from nearby residents.

Councillor Harv Westeringh said he also read correspondence from nearby residents and didn’t see an issue with the proposed development.

“I see it’s 0.81 of an acre, I know it’s gonna be a big change,” Councillor Westeringh said. “I’ve also read the correspondence. I don’t have a problem with the application and I do support it.”

Councillor Nicole Read said the proposed development is similar to a 58-unit development on Yale Road that was just recently approved by Chilliwack councillors.

“That seems to be the development that’s happening in that area,” Councillor Read said. “I do feel like Councillor Westeringh, that this area this might be one of the first [developments similar], so if it’s fitting within the 2040 OCP (Official Community Plan), that this is probably the right project right now, so I’m in favour of this.”

As Councillors Jason Lum and Bud Mercer were not present, Mayor Ken Popove cast the deciding vote against the proposed rezoning.

“I lived in that area of town; through the staff report I’m trying to envision that size of a building on that particular piece of property,” Mayor Popove said. “I just feel it’s just too big for that area, especially on that corner. It’s very busy with the elementary school. I won’t be supportive of this as well.”

One resident who contacted the City of Chilliwack in opposition to the proposed development said a realtor associated with the proposed project, Aman Bhatti, misrepresented him in the public engagement package that was attached to the rezoning application on the council agenda. A resident on Carleton Street said Bhatti visited his home in the 9700 block of Carleton Street a few years ago and approached him about the idea of building an apartment building at the end of the street, as in Yale/Carleton. The resident said he told Bhatti that was he was strongly opposed to the idea and shared several concerns with Bhatti. The resident said Bhatti approached him a few more times over the years about the idea of an apartment building, to which the resident again told Bhatti he was opposed to the idea. In the public engagement package, Bhatti listed the resident who was repeatedly opposed to the apartment building as having no comment. “A few weeks ago the community had a meeting with Aman, there were about 16 people that showed…I didn’t see any opposed on the staff report. I wonder what else Aman has mis-represented on that form,” the resident wrote in his email to the City of Chilliwack.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack City Council denies motion to rezone properties for 5-storey apartments; realtor accused of misrepresentation

More Local News