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208 Fifth Avenue

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Consultation has concluded


Project Update, December 2021: At its December 13, 2021 meeting, New Westminster City Council adopted a Heritage Revitalization Agreement Bylaw for 208 Fifth Avenue. Click here to view the Council meeting recording and access the report.


What's being proposed?

A Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) application has been received for 208 Fifth Avenue, a mid-block property in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood. The HRA proposes subdivision, creating two lots of approximately 4,000 sq. ft. (372 sq. m.) and 4,710 sq. ft. (438 sq. m.). The existing 1910 house would be moved forward onto the smaller lot fronting Fifth Avenue, and a new house would be built on the larger lot fronting Elgin Street.

In addition to smaller lot sizes, the heritage house would need zoning relaxations for parking and reduced projections and setback distance at the rear of the house. The new house would need zoning relaxations for higher density and a larger bay window. Both houses must meet the area’s design guidelines.

In exchange for the development, the 1910 house would be restored on the exterior, and legally protected with a Heritage Designation Bylaw. The bylaws would provide stronger protection, design control, and development regulations which exceed those of the Heritage Conservation Area.

Click here to view drawings of the proposed development.

click here to view updated drawings of the proposed development.


Applicant-led Engagement: Findings

Options for comment through the Applicant-led engagement included email, mail, telephone and a survey. A Virtual Open House was held on May 8, 2021 through Zoom. The feedback received has been reviewed by staff and made publicly available in the report to Council on Monday, November 1, 2021. No personal information provided in the feedback was publicly released.

What we Heard
During applicant-led consultation, the majority of community feedback focused on the following issues:

  • potential tree removal and loss of green space;
  • increased traffic/addition of a driveway across a sidewalk;
  • relocation of the heritage house; perceived low level of heritage conservation work;
  • infill house design, number and type of required relaxations, uneven lot size.

In response to the feedback received from community members, Community Heritage Commission and Land Use and Planning Committee, the applicant has made the following changes to their proposal:

Building Bulk:

  • reduced the density and size of both houses;
  • reduced the building bulk of both houses, with smaller dormers and rooflines;
  • removed the proposed attached garages/carports in favour of a detached garage (new house) and a parking pad (heritage house);

Greenspace:

  • reconfigured the site plan to provide private garden and green space for each residential unit in addition to the open front yard of the heritage house, which contributes to the Fifth Avenue streetscape;
  • reconfigured the site plan to retain a specimen sized evergreen tree;
  • completed further investigative work to ensure that the stability and vitality of the evergreen tree; and
  • will continue to work on the new driveway crossing design to retain all boulevard trees on Fifth Avenue through the Tree Permit process.

Heritage Elements:

  • revised the design of the infill house to be more consistent with the Queen’s Park design guidelines;
  • amended the Heritage Conservation Plan to retain all original windows in the heritage house; and
  • updated the heritage house’s Statement of Significance to recognize the original owners (Calbicks) in the building name, as well as the era of the house.


How can I engage?

There are multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback through the application review process. The process typically includes applicant-led consultation, review by City committees and City-led engagement. The review process is iterative and revisions are considered, based on consultation feedback, throughout the process.

The final opportunity for feedback on this project before Council decides whether to approve it will be at the Monday, November 22, 2021 Public Hearing. You can submit your comments for Council as part of the Public Hearing process through the comment form below.


Project Update, December 2021: At its December 13, 2021 meeting, New Westminster City Council adopted a Heritage Revitalization Agreement Bylaw for 208 Fifth Avenue. Click here to view the Council meeting recording and access the report.


What's being proposed?

A Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) application has been received for 208 Fifth Avenue, a mid-block property in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood. The HRA proposes subdivision, creating two lots of approximately 4,000 sq. ft. (372 sq. m.) and 4,710 sq. ft. (438 sq. m.). The existing 1910 house would be moved forward onto the smaller lot fronting Fifth Avenue, and a new house would be built on the larger lot fronting Elgin Street.

In addition to smaller lot sizes, the heritage house would need zoning relaxations for parking and reduced projections and setback distance at the rear of the house. The new house would need zoning relaxations for higher density and a larger bay window. Both houses must meet the area’s design guidelines.

In exchange for the development, the 1910 house would be restored on the exterior, and legally protected with a Heritage Designation Bylaw. The bylaws would provide stronger protection, design control, and development regulations which exceed those of the Heritage Conservation Area.

Click here to view drawings of the proposed development.

click here to view updated drawings of the proposed development.


Applicant-led Engagement: Findings

Options for comment through the Applicant-led engagement included email, mail, telephone and a survey. A Virtual Open House was held on May 8, 2021 through Zoom. The feedback received has been reviewed by staff and made publicly available in the report to Council on Monday, November 1, 2021. No personal information provided in the feedback was publicly released.

What we Heard
During applicant-led consultation, the majority of community feedback focused on the following issues:

  • potential tree removal and loss of green space;
  • increased traffic/addition of a driveway across a sidewalk;
  • relocation of the heritage house; perceived low level of heritage conservation work;
  • infill house design, number and type of required relaxations, uneven lot size.

In response to the feedback received from community members, Community Heritage Commission and Land Use and Planning Committee, the applicant has made the following changes to their proposal:

Building Bulk:

  • reduced the density and size of both houses;
  • reduced the building bulk of both houses, with smaller dormers and rooflines;
  • removed the proposed attached garages/carports in favour of a detached garage (new house) and a parking pad (heritage house);

Greenspace:

  • reconfigured the site plan to provide private garden and green space for each residential unit in addition to the open front yard of the heritage house, which contributes to the Fifth Avenue streetscape;
  • reconfigured the site plan to retain a specimen sized evergreen tree;
  • completed further investigative work to ensure that the stability and vitality of the evergreen tree; and
  • will continue to work on the new driveway crossing design to retain all boulevard trees on Fifth Avenue through the Tree Permit process.

Heritage Elements:

  • revised the design of the infill house to be more consistent with the Queen’s Park design guidelines;
  • amended the Heritage Conservation Plan to retain all original windows in the heritage house; and
  • updated the heritage house’s Statement of Significance to recognize the original owners (Calbicks) in the building name, as well as the era of the house.


How can I engage?

There are multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback through the application review process. The process typically includes applicant-led consultation, review by City committees and City-led engagement. The review process is iterative and revisions are considered, based on consultation feedback, throughout the process.

The final opportunity for feedback on this project before Council decides whether to approve it will be at the Monday, November 22, 2021 Public Hearing. You can submit your comments for Council as part of the Public Hearing process through the comment form below.