Over a dozen Chilliwack residents oppose proposed townhouse complex in Sardis Park neighbourhood

At the council meeting on August 18, 2026, councillors referred the rezoning application back to staff to examine options related to the development’s proposed height, secondary suites, parking and neighbourhood suitability. According to a city staff report, the applicant has reduced the number of secondary suites within the townhouse development from 10 to eight while retaining all proposed off-street parking spaces on site.

As a result, the overall density of the development will be reduced, and two additional parking spaces will be available for residents or visitors. To ensure a maximum of eight suites are permitted on site, the applicant has agreed to register a restrictive covenant limiting the total number of suites to eight, the city said. Subsequently, staff are recommending the application be held at third reading pending registration of the covenant. In addition, the site layout has also been amended to ensure all private amenity areas meet the minimum area requirement, and the building fronting onto Collins Drive has been redesigned to be setback further from the street, the city wrote in its staff report.

Aerial view of 45925 Collins Drive, the location of the proposed 10-unit townhouse complex with eight secondary units. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack.)

The applicant also conducted additional independent public engagement on September 8, 2026 with the neighbouring properties to provide more details about the revised proposal. The proponents of the development said an information handout was distributed in the neighbourhood describing the updated proposal, including changes made following the earlier rezoning consideration, and an invitation to attend an in-person open house. Ken Friesen and Luke Goshulak were available to explain the proposal to nearby residents, answer questions, listen to feedback and provide contact information. Among other things, they shared information about the removal of two secondary suites, retention of the proposed parking supply, and an increase in the proposed front-yard setback from 2.8 metres to 4.0 metres to reduce the development’s impact on the street.

“The discussions were constructive and helped clarify the issues that matter most to nearby residents,” the letter from Friesen and Goshulak indicated. “The engagement confirmed that there is a general openness among neighbours to redevelopment of the property, while also identifying continuing concerns about building height, parking and the density associated with accessory suites.”

According to the applicant’s engagement package, approximately 14 people signed a checked box opposing the development, citing concerns around building height, parking, density and the overall impact to the neighbourhood.

Emails of opposition were received by Chilliwack City Hall. One resident described the proposed townhouse complex as “intrusive and detrimental,” speculated that 18 units could generate upwards of 36 vehicles on site, and asked that sufficient parking be built within the complex.

“The reality is that ten cars will be parked in the driveways and three cars will be parked in the only visitor parking spots,” the Centennial Drive resident wrote in his email to City Hall. “That leaves 23 cars needing parking space. More when you consider visitors. The only place for these additional cars to park will be along Collins Drive – along the front lawns of neighbouring properties. The safety impact to pedestrians, cyclist safety is obvious. As are the impacts to the neighbouring property owners. No matter what development proposal is approved, we simply ask that the development be able to accommodate all of its parking needs within its own property boundaries. No proposed development should defer its parking dilemmas to neighbouring property owners, pedestrians, and cyclists.”

Chilliwack City Council is set to consider the rezoning application at its meeting today at 2 p.m.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Over a dozen Chilliwack residents oppose proposed townhouse complex in Sardis Park neighbourhood

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