Surrey council gave third-reading approval without debate to two large tower projects in North Surrey following a public hearing in chambers Monday night (Sept. 25)
The first project will see Kelson Guildford Holdings Ltd. develop a 22-storey mixed-use high-rise with 296 dwellings and ground-floor commercial space in Guildford at 15330-102A Avenue.
Meantime, Marcon City Parkway Properties Ltd. intends to develop a 42-storey mixed-use tower with a six-storey podium featuring 11,224 square metres of commercial and office space, as well as 365 dwellings, at 13511, 13521, 13531, 13541, and 13551 - 102 Ave. in Whalley.
City Clerk Jennifer Ficocelli said the city received 143 submissions in favour of the Guildford project, seven opposed and one expressing “concerns.”
Twenty-two people spoke to that project at the public hearing.
Fleetwood Richard Landale asked council to reject the project over school saturation and increased traffic he warned it will create.
“Stunning, quite stunning,” he remarked.
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Jonathon Grand spoke in favour, noting 2019 was the last year Guildford witnessed a residential development completion. “It’s time to build more homes,” he said. Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, said she’s “impressed” by the architectural design. “Guildford needs focus,” she said. “It needs redevelopment.”
Graydon Halley, manager of projects for the Lark Group, also sang its praises “not just as a construction project, but as a catalyst for growth, a symbol for community and a step in a bold new direction for Guildford Town Centre.”
Amanda Wowryk, a neighbour to the project, spoke against it, saying “rampant growth is going to put a strain on our community.”
“It’s going to change our views of trees and skies to concrete and glass.”
Shirley Chang spoke against it and Ryan DelBlanc said he’s concerned about the scale, saying the 22-storey tower will be “sticking out in the middle of nowhere in a sea of four to five to two-storey buildings.” Scott Kenward said parking “will be an issue,” and there’s “no way” local roads will be able to handle the increased traffic. “It’s already difficult to move around our community.”
Z. Jiao opposed the project, citing increased traffic among his concerns. Philip Kutle agreed, and warned the project would put “additional and perhaps unmanageable” pressure on local elementary and secondary schools and increase “vertical sprawl.” Akash Jein urged council to reject the application. Colin Neufeld, architect of the project, said the tower will placed in a position that will eliminate shadows on neighbours to the south and east. Surrey realtor Spencer DeBoice spoke in favour of the project, as did Andy Mander. “Simply put, we need more homes,” Mander said. Kelsey Horne, who said she lives a couple of blocks from it, said she “cannot wait to see it come to life.”
“Will this cause more congestion in the area? Of course. But the pros far outweigh the cons,” she said. “We need this development to keep people in Surrey who want to live in Surrey. We’re pushing people out by not having housing available. We need this project and we need a lot more projects like this.”
Later in the public hearing, only two people spoke to the 42-storey Whalley high-rise project.
“Staggering, simply staggering,” Richard Landale told council, concerned it will create more traffic congestion. Deb Jack, of Surrey Environmental Partners, noted while 14 trees will be “killed off,” 59 trees will be planted on site. “It appears in this development there is some appreciation of the importance of vegetation and trees.”
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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