Higher-density housing is likely coming to a district-owned plot of land in the Ambleside neighbourhood.
On March 10, West Vancouver council got the ball rolling on a process to rezone and ultimately redevelop four single-family lots at Fulton Avenue and 15th Street.
With the approval of the district’s elected officials, staff have set a date of April 14 for council to consider the rezoning of 1542 and 1538 Fulton Ave., as well as 791 and 775 15th St., referred to as the “Fulton Lands.”
During a staff presentation, council heard that the land could be considered for more diverse and affordable housing, including strata, rental, below-market rental and homes for seniors.
Those types of housing are consistent with the July-2024 approved Ambleside local area plan, said Michelle McGuire, senior manager of current planning and urban design.
Mayor and council were shown two example drawings, the first with an eight-storey, mid-rise apartment with adjacent townhomes, and another with two five-storey low-rise buildings built side by side.
If rezoning goes ahead for the land, the district will issue a request for proposal and later evaluate different pitches for how to develop the property.
A public hearing for the rezoning will not take place, as it conforms with the official community plan.
Redevelopment would displace two public-facing services on the land. One is a BC Ambulance building (which includes parking for the district's lone ambulance) and the other is headquarters for the West Vancouver Foundation non-profit.
District spokesperson Carrie Gadsby said the ambulance is temporarily parking at Fire Station No. 1 next door.
"Preliminary discussions are taking place between the district and West Vancouver Foundation, but we don’t have any further information at this time," she added.
Councillor hopes to see 'variety of proposals' come forward
Even though the community plan suggests more diverse and affordable housing options, that doesn’t preclude market or strata, said Coun. Linda Watt.
“It’d be great to see a variety of proposals come forward and see what fits best,” she said.
Coun. Christine Cassidy asked staff if a higher building height could be considered than what’s within the current rezoning proposal that’s slated for consideration.
McGuire replied that such a change isn’t aligned with the current direction provided by council, but that a bylaw could be amended.
“The other consideration is that height is something that can be varied through a development permit,” she said.
Anticipating misunderstandings from the public about the process to redevelop the site, Coun. Nora Gambioli characterized it as a “housekeeping manoeuvre.”
“I’m going to call this a housekeeping administrative thing, just so that people don’t think that we’re starting from scratch and we’re all of a sudden taking four old houses and making a huge tower,” she said.
Council already had that discussion when approving the Ambleside area plan, Gambioli said.
“We’ve already agreed, thanks to a year-and-a-half worth of public input, that that’s what we want to do on that site,” she said.
This article has been updated with information about the BC Ambulance building and West Vancouver Foundation headquarters, which are currently located on the land.
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