Chilliwack Council refers 3-storey building containing daycare, pharmacy back to staff over design concerns

Councillor Bud Mercer said he chaired the Design Review Advisory Committee where the proposed development was reviewed and approved. However, he expressed concern around the proposed look as depicted in renderings that were presented at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Councillor Bud Mercer.

“I have to be honest to say there was a general uneasiness in that they weren’t sure it fit in with the neighbourhood, the design I mean,” Mercer said. “My question is about those two yellow poles that look completely out of place. Like, what are they for?”

A person affiliated with the proposed building said the two yellow poles are BC Hydro poles, and they were simply presented as yellow for the purpose of the rendering. The poles would not be painted yellow as part of the development.

Another view of the now-vacant lot at 45760 Alder Avenue, located east of Vedder Road in Sardis.

Councillor Chris Kloot asked city staff whether it was a fairly common practice to see an amenity area for smaller kids to be installed on a deck space.

In response, Erin Leary said, “Chilliwack does not have very many day care spaces but as day cares move into community buildings, there are a number that are proposing, or have constructed, rooftop or decktop amenity spaces to meet Fraser Health requirements for outdoor space on constrained sites.”

Kloot said, “It would appear that the deck space is kind of elevated over the parkade or parking underneath. I just have a little concern with respect to children on an area where it would appear that it’s just your average 36-inch fence.” He asked staff if the city had any capability to require higher fencing for child safety purposes.

Kloot later pointed out that the proposed building design appeared to be three separate buildings and noted the different windows and styles.

Mayor Ken Popove said he wasn’t thrilled with the proposed rendering.

“For me, I don’t like the looks of it. I don’t think it’s going to fit into the neighbourhood,” he said. “I know it’s a unique piece of property, the developer did his best. I will not be supporting this.”

Councillor Mercer chimed in again and asked if there was an opportunity for staff to sit down with the applicant to tone down the exterior design.

“It’s like opening a Christmas card and pops out at you, it’s loud,” Mercer said. “I don’t know that it fits either. I’m just wondering if there are options.”

Leary said the application can be referred back to staff if council directed staff to work with the applicant.

Councillor Nicole Read said, “I struggle with it. I struggle with the location for a day care with a large deck coming off of the back as the play area, just speaking to what my colleagues had to say there. I find the building fine, although the deck on the second floor falls out of line, for the use of that deck, and the idea behind it doesn’t sit well with me. I would support the motion to refer back to just work on maybe alternative uses that don’t require a deck, but I’m not sure if that’s actually possible. I think the day care is permitted within that space.”

Councillor Nicole Read. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack.)

Councillor Jeff Shields said the building wasn’t “everybody’s cup of tea” but didn’t voice significant concerns around the design given its relative lack of visibility. Train tracks are located just to the south and east of the building.

“It’s not a well travelled area. It’s a difficult lot to work with,” Shields said. “If you’re gonna operate a day care, we would prefer to see daycares in commercial areas as opposed to going into residential areas. It’s about the only way they can do it. You think what we allow into residential properties… I don’t have any sort of issue with this. I think it’s fine.”

Councillor Jason Lum said the underlying land use is supported, and acknowledged that the proposed design resembled three separate buildings.

“So much of beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Lum said. “What’s more important to me is that the neighbourhood looked at this and said we need a day care, we need health care, we need a pharmacy close to us. I think that maybe helps this along in my mind get past the finish line. It kind of looks like three separate buildings.”

Councillor Jason Lum.

While Councillor Harv Westeringh said he didn’t have any issues with the proposed building, Councillor Kloot said he wanted the building to look appropriate for the long haul.

“I just feel the building has a multitude of things that seem to be going on. We also gotta taken into account that this will be here for the next 50, 80 years. Let’s make sure we get it right the first time.”

Councillors voted 4-3 to refer the motion back to staff to work with the developer.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Council refers 3-storey building containing daycare, pharmacy back to staff over design concerns

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