Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Public hearing set

Public hearing on two new school campuses, commercial development in Chilliwack set for next week

Oct 2, 2025 | 11:32 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack City Council will hold a public hearing next week on a rezoning application that could result in two new school campuses and a commercial development in Eastern Hillsides.

Chilliwack councillors gave first and second reading at its last meeting on Sept. 16 for a rezoning application on a 3.22-hectare property at 50700 Hack Brown Road. If councillors give third and final reading next week, it could pave the way for two new Unity Christian School campuses and an unspecified commercial development.

Pebonato Land Use Consulting has applied to rezone the property from an AL (agricultural lowland) zone to a CS1 (service commercial) and P1 (civic assembly) zone to facilitate a future school and commercial development.

According to a staff report from City of Chilliwack planner Adam Roberts, councillors will need to consider various geotechnical and environmental considerations about the proposed project. A restrictive covenant would need to be filed to limit development to phase one of the multi-phase project until further traffic analysis can be completed, and a referral to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (formerly MOTI) would also be required.

Image: City of Chilliwack / Site map of proposed development on Hack Brown Road in Eastern Hillsides.

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The staff report from Roberts indicates the applicant would like to build an elementary school and middle school associated to nearby Unity Christian, and a separate commercial development. The development envisions a two-lot subdivision along the proposed zone boundary to create separate lots for the commercial building and schools.

While the development application is in the conceptual stages, it could include a three-storey elementary school and three-storey middle school, a two-storey commercial building, sufficient parking, and a multi-use path along Hack Brown Road connecting the subject property to the school at 50950 Hack Brown.

The property is not designated as being within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

At the meeting on Sept. 16, Councillor Harv Westeringh welcomed the opportunity for a commercial development in Eastern Hillsides.

“Obviously, subject to public consultation, very happy to see there’s still a commercial component in there as I think that area is underserved by commercial activity. So, it’d be nice to see that stay,” Westeringh said.

The applicant envisions construction on the site within two phases, with the commercial development and the elementary school in phase one, followed by the middle school in phase two. Phase one would only activate minor traffic improvements, whereas additional information regarding potential traffic impacts and associated road improvements would be required. As such, the applicant has agreed to register a voluntary restrictive covenant on title which would limit development to phase one until further analysis is completed.

The public hearing will be held Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 8550 Young Road.