Advisory Planning Commission Meeting Summary

The project was presented to the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) at their meeting on March 16, 2021. The APC is a City advisory body made up of nine members of the public appointed by Council. The role of the APC is to advise Council on an application such as this, which requires a change to zoning and the Official Community Plan. The APC makes a recommendation to Council, either supporting or not supporting the application, but it is solely at Council’s discretion whether to approve or not to approve the application.

The APC meeting was advertised by:

• Mailing postcard to all owners and occupants within 100 metres (328 feet) of the site. A total of 176 postcard were distributed.
• Sending letters sent to the Glenbrooke North Residents Association, New Westminster School District, and New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society.
• Posting information on the Be Heard New West project page.

Correspondence was received from 91 people. Through this correspondence, a total of 37 people expressed support for the project (41%), 52 were opposed (57%), and 2 did not express a clear position (2%). A letter summarizing the petition previously submitted to the City in opposition of the project was also submitted to the APC. At the meeting, the APC heard from 27 speakers, of whom 12 spoke in favour (44%), 13 spoke in opposition (48%), and 2 did not clearly state a position but suggested changes to the proposal (7%).

After receiving the correspondence and hearing from the speakers the APC unanimously passed the following motion:

THAT the Advisory Planning Commission support the Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning application for the proposed affordable housing project at 823-841 Sixth Street.

To learn more about the APC or review the staff report and correspondence received please visit: www.newwestcity.ca/apc.

The minutes from the meeting will also be available on the APC webpage after the next meeting.