A planned seniors housing and medical facility across from Surrey Memorial Hospital is moving forward after city council gave the application third reading Monday night.
The $250-million WestStone Group project, at 9525 King George Blvd., includes two six-storey buildings for senior’s independent living (202 units); a 12-storey mixed-use medical building with 220 complex care and assisted-living units; and a senior’s medical research centre and offices.
All told, the buildings will provide 556,000 square feet of living and working space.
It will replace a mobile home park, Park Mobile, that has experienced flooding on a regular basis due to a collapsed culvert built in the 60s.
Though the project was initially controversial due to concerns over where the park’s residents would relocate, a report to city hall notes all the lots have now been purchased by the developer.
No one spoke in opposition to the project Monday night at a public hearing, according to the city clerk.
See also: Seniors' facility proposal for trailer park site hits a snag
WestStone applied to the city to redesignate a portion of the site from Multiple Residential to Central Business District, and rezone the site from Tourist Accommodation to Comprehensive Development. Also sought is a development variance permit to reduce the streamside setback from 30 metres to 19 metres along the northern and eastern portions of the property to accommodate the layout of the buildings.
Meanwhile, the riparian area will be conveyed to the city for environmental protection.
“Surrey is B.C.’s fastest growing city, and with that comes a need for living-space and medical resources for its rapidly aging population,” said Robert Dominick, VP of WestStone. “Space for senior’s independent living and medical research is becoming increasingly dire.”