Staff Presentation - REZONING 2020/05 - 9 Erskine Lane

PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of this report is to present Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 Amendment Bylaw No. 1059, 2020 to rezone 9 Erskine Lane to a purpose-built rental development in a four five-storey building, 336 unit, 1.27 FSR configuration for Public Hearing.

• This application changes the proposal from a rezoning to the RM-3 zone to a CD (Comprehensive Development) zone. The zone will be drafted for readings of the bylaw.

• The buildings are a little shorter, with all four buildings now proposed at 5 storeys at ~15m tall as opposed to the previous application with two five-storey and two six-storey buildings proposed at 15.5-18.2m tall.

• The reduced surface parking and the updated proposed landscaping plan enables the retention of 40% of the current tree canopy, along with the proposal by the applicant to plant 250+ trees.

• The units a little less in number (reduced by 36 units) and the density a little lower, from a 1.35 FSR to a combined 1.27 FSR for the two lots (1.44 and 1.14 respectively).

• The proposal is now for sidewalks on Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way, bus/pad stop, roundabout at Watkiss Way and Erskine Lane, widening Erskine Lane.

• Two storey underground parking (last application single storey).

• 20-year rental housing covenant instead of the previous 10 year.

• Pre-wiring for electric vehicle charging for all parking spaces and provision of four carshare cars (one per building).

• Provision of a play structure either on-site or at nearby Game Nature Park. Game Nature Park is primarily a natural park, and staff would prefer that the play structure be located on the subject property. This does mean that it would not be accessible to the public; only residents and guests.

Unit Mix

• 16 studio units
• 160 one-bedroom units
• 120 two-bedroom units
• 40 three-bedroom units

Statistics Comparison

CD-25: Erskine Lane Residential Zoning Details

Building Height

15.5m and 5 storeys tall, as measured from the base of the building. Final heights from (calculated) average grade would be finalized at time of Development Permit.

More refinement and detail could be done prior to readings to ensure certainty of the building heights during readings of the bylaw.

Two levels of underground parking proposed.

Site Plan and Details

Transportation Impact

The updated transportation impact assessment concludes that the development would not significantly impact the Watkiss Way/Erskine Lane intersection’s current Level of Service (A/B) and recommends that:

• The developer will provide a sidewalk along the Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way development frontages.
• The developer to implement TDM (Traffic Demand Management) strategies (car share vehicles (2) and electric bicycle share (2)) to reduce vehicle traffic and encourage active modes.
• The developer to provide a roundabout at intersection of Watkiss Way and Erskine Lane.
• The developer to provide funds for upgrading the Hospital trail to at least a 3m gravel pathway should that be possible.

Site Servicing

With the reduced density, Islander Engineering offers the following:

"Because our captioned design brief was crafted for a higher density of the same usage, there are no concerns from an engineering site servicing or traffic perspective over and above what was identified in our Technical Design Brief dated October 9, 2019.

In our professional opinion, there is no need to update our technical report during this land usage stage. Once the land is rezoned for the proposed use and a DP/BP is being considered, we would recommend that you revisit the densities so that Islander can revise conceptual designs."

Tree Protection

Due to the reconfiguration of the parking, the applicant is proposing that 40% of the current tree coverage will be retained and is proposing to replant ‘over 250’ trees. Additional consideration of tree protection and retention can be made by Council at time of Form and Character Development Permit.

Bird Habitat

Active bird nests are protected between March and August under the Wildlife Act. Only significant nest was potentially a Cooper’s Hawk or Common Raven nest. The Province’s 2005 Best Management Practices for Raptor Conservation during Urban and Rural Land Development in British Columbia report notes the following about the Cooper’s Hawk:

• Among the species that are relatively compatible with human activity and are most likely to benefit from BMPs [best management practices] in urban and rural environments.
• Can nest near human developments.
• Prefers an area of interlocking tree canopy for rearing young.
• Greater Victoria contains one of the highest nesting densities of this species in North America.

Riparian Areas

A report from a registered professional biologist confirms that the ditch along the Watkiss Way frontage is not a watercourse and therefore not subject to the Riparian Areas Regulation.

Geotechnical

A geotechnical overview concludes there are no preliminary indications of geotechnical issues, although it notes that “careful consideration will be required if it is desired to build in vicinity of the 8 to 10m rock cut along the north east property line.”

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

For this development concept, the Zoning Bylaw requires one electric vehicle charging station on the lot in a location which is accessible to visitors or residents. The development concept would provide pre-wiring for every vehicle spot.

Public Engagement

In the previous application the applicant indicated that their public engagement initiatives included the following:

1. January 2020 - door to door campaign in the Erskine Lane, Stoneridge and Eagle Creek Village areas
2. January 27, 2020 - open house
3. March 4, 2020 - open house
4. July 2020 – Flyer distribution with link to the WestUrban website for information and opportunities for comment.
5. October 5-6, 2020 – open house

With COVID opportunities for further public input in-person would likely have been limited. The current application here is a result of the engagement with the Town and the public, and the associated changes to the plan.

Community Amenity Contribution

In accordance with the Community Amenity Contributions Policy, the policy rate is $3,500 per attached residential unit. For this proposal, the amount would be 336 x $3,500 = $1,176,000.

The applicant is offering a 10% affordable housing component.

The OCP recommends that a contribution to the Regional Housing Trust Fund be made.

Other viable solutions discussed include Game Nature park improvements, pedestrian and cycling improvements to the Erskine/Watkiss intersection around the proposed roundabout.

Erskine Lane Improvements

Improvements to Erskine Lane will follow the Local 18m ROW Urban Class A standard within the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw. Any change to the Local 18m ROW standard will require a variance.

Park improvements

At the January 7, 2020 joint meeting of the Community Development Advisory Committee and the Parks Recreation and Environment Committee reviewing the rezoning proposal for 7 Erskine Lane, there was support for community amenity upgrades to Game Nature Park, which is 4,000m2 of parkland that was transferred to the Town in 2001 and is currently unimproved.

Regarding the position of a playground on-site, the proposal is for the structure to be positioned above the underground parking structure. This location is ideal in that it is not possible to place trees on that portion of the property.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

The applicant has responded to Council input from the last application by providing a proposal with less units, lower density, lower height, more underground parking, a revised site layout, and other small refinements.

In comparison to the other recent rezoning immediately adjacent, 7 Erskine Lane is zoned RM-3 and proposed a higher maximum density (1.6 FSR) and similar building height (13.5m) than the proposed for 9 Erskine Lane.

NEXT STEPS

Third reading of Bylaw No. 900, 2014 Amendment Bylaw No. 1059 is scheduled for later this evening.

Should the rezoning be successful, the next steps are:

1. Registration of the Development Agreement and Housing Agreement Covenants.
2. Application for the Form and Character Development Permit.

CONCLUSION

The application is consistent with the OCP, offers a robust Community Amenity Contribution, meets the Hospital Neighbourhood Centre goals, and offers a sustainable approach to development.

If the Town desires development which will respond to a climate emergency in form, location, housing typology and construction standard, this is the type of proposal which should be welcomed and encouraged.

Staff is supportive of this application.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the report dated November 12, 2020 from the Community Planner titled “Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1059, 2020 to Rezone 9 Erskine Lane to CD-25: Erskine Lane Residential” be received.