Just weeks after a massive two-tower development was scrapped and put under a court-ordered sale in Langford’s downtown core, another proposal has emerged for the same neighbourhood.
ParaMorph Architecture, on behalf of a group of seven owners, submitted a rezoning application to Langford’s sustainable development committee this week that could see towers of 13 and 22 storeys, with 317 residential units and more than 12,000 square feet of commercial space.
The development is planned for eight lots currently occupied by single-family homes and a duplex between Peatt and Sunderland Roads.
That’s just north of the site where 22- and 18-storey residential towers had been planned for a collection of single-family lots bounded by Arncotte Avenue and Peatt and Sunderland roads.
A spokesperson for the ownership group for the new proposal told council it was “different owners” not associated with the Langford Gateway project, which has been stalled since 2021 and is currently subject to a court-ordered sale.
Neighbours of the 1.8-acre Gateway site have complained about boarded-up homes that are used by squatters, along with empty lots with piles of rubble and hazardous waste.
The spokesperson for the ownership group at Peatt and Sunderland roads said the properties on its site are all rented, with long-term leases, and will continue to be maintained and occupied, with no demolition planned until the owners are ready to submit a building and development permit application.
The new proposal would include one level of underground parking and a four-storey parkade, with the developer noting a “problematic water table” in the area.
A podium with a rooftop communal space and garden would connect the two towers, which would contain 56 studio units, 143 one-bedroom units and 118 two-bedrooms. It hasn’t yet been determined whether the units will be condominiums or rentals.
At a nearly three-hour meeting on Monday night, Langford’s sustainable development committee heard from some members of the public concerned about building heights, density and congestion.
Vern Trew, who has lived at 2626 Sunderland Rd. since 1988, said his property is being “orphaned” by the planned new towers and another newer development on the other side.
“I’m conflicted with the proposal,” he told committee members. “I agree with future development of this land as Langford is growing. The land needs to be used effectively and developed for maximum benefit for the public.”
But he hasn’t been able to sell his property, either to new owners nor the developers, and that’s left him stuck.
“If this proposal goes forward, it would place a concrete wall 99 feet long at four stories of height on my property line,” he said.
He told committee members to urge the developer to buy his home to use the lot for parking during the construction phase and then include his parcel as an amenity for a park when the buildings are complete.
“The city doesn’t have a bylaw for orphaning a lot next to a big development,” said Trew, adding he’s concerned about other areas of the city where larger developments have stranded single-family homes.
Under council’s amenity contribution policy, based on the number of units, the developer would pay the city nearly $940,000, which would be set aside for affordable housing and reserve funds.
Development cost charges for the developer would total $2.3 million.
The sustainable development committee, which includes councillors Kim Guiry, Lillian Szpak and Mary Wager as well as six members of the public, did not immediately make a decision on sending the rezoning application to council to consider.
After a motion failed to extend the meeting past 11 p.m., the matter was adjourned to March 10.
