The City of Delta has received an application to rezone and subdivide a Tsawwassen residential property to build 35 new homes.
The proposal for the 0.73-hectare (1.8 acre) property at 5090 1 Ave. would see the site split into 10 small-scale residential lots that would have five four-unit houseplexes and five three-unit houseplexes
A report to council notes that a new road dedication would also be required to complete Wallace Avenue and a cul-de-sac at the end of Walker Avenue.
The report also notes that although the application is consistent with the Small Scale Residential (SSR) designation in the Official Community Plan (OCP) and new application reports are typically presented to council for larger complex projects, a proposed consultation process was presented “due to the unusually large size of the subject property, the number of lots and units proposed, the number of surrounding properties and the existing neighbourhood context which has historically not experienced much infill development.”
Houseplexes are multi-unit residential buildings with up to four dwelling units.
The application is also at a preliminary stage and aspects may change in response to detailed staff review and comments received from council or the community, the report adds.
Council recently gave preliminary approval for an application to allow 16 residential units in a Tsawwassen neighbourhood.
That rezoning for 808 51 St., 5140 8A Avenue as well as a portion of 51st Street would involve the subdivision of the properties and a portion of road into four small-scale residential lots and construction of a four-unit houseplex on each lot.
Approved in 2024, the SSMUH regulations permit additional units on the majority of single-detached and duplex zoned lots in Delta.
City staff are currently reviewing the city’s SSMUH regulations including developing a definition of houseplexes for the updated zoning bylaw, saying there is a need for differentiation from a duplex, townhouse and other ground-oriented forms of development.
Meantime, Surrey city council recently approved a one-year pilot project aimed at simplifying the development permit process for houseplexes.
The pilot program is to ensure that those new homes are designed to fit with existing neighbourhoods but with a simplified, staff delegated review and approval process, which is to significantly reduce wait times and facilitate quicker project starts, according to the city.
