Attachment 3 - Letter from dHKarchitects regarding West Park One Residences

West Park One Residences - CD-23 Zone

Dear Mayor Screech and Members of Council;

We are pleased to present the Development Permit application for West Park One - the first market residential multi-family development on the West Park (CD-23) site adjacent to Thetis Lake Park.

The project is designed as a four storey residential building over two levels of parking on a steeply sloped site. The site location and size is consistent with the plans that were submitted as part of the CD-23 Rezoning - designated at that time as the ‘Phase 4’ building. The parking levels are completely below grade on the street-side of the building and one level of the parking is exposed on the downhill slope of the site because of the significant slope across the site after site preparation (blasting) was completed. For this reason, the building is considered a 5-storey building, but it will only present as four storeys from the street.

The project will have a mix of one and two bedroom units with a total of 48 units and the vehicle and bicycle parking necessary to support the residents and visitors to the building. We have not pushed the building higher (5 storeys over parking) for a number of key reasons. As designed , the project fits within the zoning requirements for height and density and site coverage, and we are meeting the requirements for vehicle and bicycle parking. Additional floor area would necessitate variances and the desire is to advance this project as quickly and efficiently as possible through the approvals process so that construction can begin. Furthermore, we felt that the downslope residents. (Townhouses) would appreciate having one storey less of building height above their rear-yards and adjacent community play area.

All of the servicing requirements for the site have been pre-engineered as part of the CD-23 site preparation process and this development brings the overall total of planned and constructed units on the site to 178.

The project will provide an additional 48 units of quality strata apartments in an extremely popular and desirable location and will be design to meet or exceed the Step Code Level 3 requirements for energy use. Wood-based construction, reduction of GHG emissions through the use of all-electric service water heating and HVAC, reduced cement in all concrete materials, and a high-diversion rate of construction waste going to the landfill will be key components in the overall sustainability goals for the project.

There are some minor variance requests for setbacks that are unavoidable given the complex geometry of the property but they are not causing any negative impacts on adjacent properties. We also have a small variance for the impermeable surface area calculation and we will be managing the storm water run-off from this site using detention chambers to eliminate any high-flow run-off concerns during severe rain events. Infiltration is not possible as the entire property is solid bedrock.

The building form and character is in keeping with the contemporary design aesthetic for market 4 storey wood frame construction with the residential suite elements emphasized using an alternating rhythm of light and dark cement-fibre cladding over a base level of natural cedar siding. The upper storeys appear to float above the darker wood base and the overall impression of scale and the building proportions are enhanced.

We believe this will be an attractive and desirable addition to the West Park development and set the right tone for future multi-family developments to follow.

Sincerely,

dHKarchitects

Charles Kierulf architect AIBC MRAIC Managing Principal