Opposition forms against proposed 5-storey building at Mary/Ontario in Chilliwack

“We’re concerned about the density of the area already,” Smith said. “There are too many cars already. Two people have been killed in the area in the last few years; two people have been hit by cars. We can hardly get out of the apartment building we’re in. We’re worried about the parking situation at the proposed building.”

Image: City of Chilliwack / Karen Smith was one of three individuals that spoke against a proposed 5-storey rental building at Mary Street and Ontario Avenue. Smith resides in a housing complex directly across the street from where the proposed 5-storey rental building will be located.

Brown attributed the increased traffic to a Starbucks up the street at Ontario and Yale Road.

“I’ve lived in the building across the street from where this would be for 16-17 years,” Brown said. “I have enjoyed that area. I have a bit of a view. The thought of this big conglomerate being there, it just seems like it’s not the right spot for it. It seems like it’s too big. The driveway is going to be on Ontario Street. Since Starbucks…is on Ontario, traffic is so bad during the day. People park all over the place. When we come out of our building, we can’t even see because the cars are lined up. We have to inch out and hope to God no one hits us. That’s the situation.”

Terry Olson, another resident of 9170 Mary Street, said the area around the proposed housing development is highly populated with seniors.

“I can see just sitting on my balcony, they’re all seniors,” Olson said. “They all have walkers or 4-wheel mobile vehicles (scooters). Ontario Street is very small. The number one thing is safety issues for seniors because they have the freedom to come and go to feel confident that everything’s going to be all right. With this new building going up, it’ll impact the population.”

Olson questioned the demographics of who might potentially live in the proposed building, but Popove said council was there to decide land use and not who might potentially live in the building.

The city of Chilliwack received an email of concern from a business owner on Ontario Street, Dawn Beischer, who expressed concern about on-street parking for her Manestop Hair business at 45723 Ontario Avenue, and an email of opposition from five tenants at Roy Campbell Lodge, 9141 School Street, saying they were not happy with the proposed rezoning of 9132 and 9146 Mary Street.

The applicant, listed only as 1335457 BC Ltd. in city staff reports, had asked the city to rezone the two properties from an RC (commercial conversion) zone to an R6 (mid-rise apartment) zone to facilitate the construction of an apartment building. After a public hearing, city of Chilliwack staff had recommended that council members give third reading and adoption to the bylaw with respect to the properties.

According to a staff report from city planner Adam Roberts, the design of the proposed apartment building and its site are considered “visually appealing and constitutes a high-quality addition to the area.” Roberts noted that the parcels are located close to the downtown core and are in proximity to transit and commercial services.

One of the applicants behind the 5-storey project, Shane Nercissian, told council that he and the other developer, Adam Lee, haven’t asked for any variances as it relates to parking. Nercessian did say the target audience would include seniors, as well as families, but they would not discriminate against anyone looking to reside in the building.

“We’re looking to build a rental building that is very much in need right now, as long as everyone checks the boxes and they’re going to be a good tenant and respect the neighbourhood and the community, that’s someone we would consider for tenancy,” Nercissian told council.

Image: City of Chilliwack meeting / Shane Nercissian is one of the owners of 9132 and 9146 Mary Street. He said he will be looking for good tenants to fill the proposed 5-storey building at 9132 and 9146 Mary Street.

Councillor Nicole Read said Chilliwack needs more rental housing in light of the recent provincial mandate to increase housing stock.

“We really appreciate that the community has come out to talk about the concerns in the neighbourhood. We hear your concerns around traffic, roadways and safety. We also recognize that we need more housing in our community. It’s important that we do build housing for our entire community. We need to densify our downtown areas,” Read said.

Read said there are seniors in Chilliwack who are living in their cars and unsafe housing arrangements.

Councillor Jeff Shields said he was happy to hear the building would be a rental complex, saying the location in question was close to medical offices and Chilliwack General Hospital.

Councillor Chris Kloot said he understood change could be difficult for the residents at 9170 Mary Street, but added that the proposed building was an attractive building that would undergo extensive scrutiny through the design review advisory committee.

“I think this is the right fit; 25 of the units will be 1-bedroom,” Kloot said. “All of the parking will be absorbed on site.”

As for concerns about noise, Kloot said he encouraged residents impacted by construction-related noise to contact city bylaw staff.

Councillors wound up voting to accept the proposed rezoning for the five-storey building.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Opposition forms against proposed 5-storey building at Mary/Ontario in Chilliwack

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