March 11, 2026 - Minutes

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Remote (Zoom) Meeting

Present:

Wayne Craig, General Manager, Planning and Development, Chair

Lloyd Bie, Director, Transportation

James Cooper, Director, Building Approvals

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on February 25, 2026 be adopted.

CARRIED

1.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-037757

(REDMS No. 8308609)

APPLICANT:

Deluxe Custom Homes Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

7480 and 7486 Williams Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

Permit the construction of two small-scale multi-unit housing developments on lots zoned “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)”; and

2.

Vary the provisions of the Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

reduce the required front yard setback from 6.0 m to 4.5 m;

(b)

reduce the required rear yard setback from 6.0 m to 3.0 m;

(c)

permit an attached garage to be located within 6.0 m of the rear lot line; and

(d)

permit an exterior wall oriented to an interior side yard to have a continuous wall length greater than 55 per cent of the total lot depth.

Applicant’s Comments

Ravi Sanghera, on behalf of Deluxe Custom Homes Ltd., with the aid of a visual presentation (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), provided background information on the proposed development, highlighting the following:

§   

the property at 7480 Williams Road was previously rezoned in 2023 to permit compact residential development and facilitate the creation of two lots with shared driveway under the former “Coach House (ZS12) Broadmoor” zone;

§   

an associated subdivision application was subsequently approved by the City that created the current two lots, i.e., 7480 and 7486 Williams Road;

§   

In 2024, the two properties were rezoned from “Coach House (ZS12) Broadmoor” to “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)” as part of the City’s implementation of Bill 44 that was passed by the Province and as a result, the previously approved development was unable to proceed as it did not comply with the new zoning;

§   

the subject development is proposing a similar design that was previously approved by Council;

§   

the proposed development consists of two lots separated by a shared drive aisle  with each lot containing two two-storey front and back units, two enclosed parking spaces for the front units, one surface parking stall for the rear units and private open spaces for all the dwelling units on both lots;

§   

vehicular access to both lots are provided from Williams Road through the shared drive aisle; reciprocal access and parking arrangements over the shared drive aisle were secured through legal agreements on Title;

§   

pedestrian access to the front unit is provided directly from Williams Road while pedestrian access the rear unit is provided through the shared driveway and along the side yard pathways;

§   

the proposed variances relating to setbacks, garage placement, and exterior wall length are consistent with the development’s form and character that was previously approved by Council and similar to adjacent properties on Williams Road;

§   

windows of upper levels of units have been oriented to minimize overlook to adjacent properties;

§   

two on-site trees have been removed and six new trees are proposed to be planted on-site, exceeding the required 2:1 tree replacement ratio;

§   

the proposed development meets the live landscaping requirements;

§   

the applicant had provided a landscaped security prior to the previous rezoning bylaw adoption which the City continues to hold; and

§   

the applicant has committed to demonstrate compliance with the required BC Energy Step Code 3 and Emissions Level 4 for the project.

Staff Comments

Joshua Reis, Director, Development, noted that (i) the proposed front-back dwelling units on each of the two lots in the proposed development is generally consistent with the development form and site layout of the rezoning application that was previously approved by Council in 2023, (ii) the proposal is also consistent with the form and character of adjacent properties along this section on the south side of Williams Road,  (iii) the proposed variances would enable the proposed development to proceed as previously envisioned, (iv) three new trees are proposed to be planted on each lot, (v) landscape securities were collected at the time of rezoning, (vi) the subject properties were subdivided consistent with the previous Zoning Bylaw, and (vii) site servicing was secured at the time of subdivision of the property and frontage works associated with site servicing are currently under construction.

Panel Discussion

In reply to queries from the Panel, staff confirmed that (i) the form of development previously approved by Council though the prior rezoning and subdivision application for the subject property was not implemented as it was impacted by the introduction of Bill 44, a provincial legislation which mandated municipalities to revise their zoning bylaws to permit small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH), (ii) there is a utility right-of-way (ROW) mainly along the rear of 7480 Williams Road that extends into a portion of 7486 Williams Road, this area is occupied by a surface parking stall with permeable paving for the rear units, and (iii) the City’s Engineering Department did not raise concerns regarding the proposed permeable paving treatment for the proposed parking stall along a portion of the ROW.

Correspondence

Ruby Hong Gao, 7468 Williams Road (Schedule 2)

Staff noted that staff have responded to the correspondent and has been advised of the City’s processes with regard to the requested change of the civic number for one of the lots (7486 Williams Road) and staff will work with the applicant regarding property addressing. 

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

The Panel expressed support for the application, noting that (i) the proposed development fits well with its neighbourhood as it looks similar to adjacent residential properties, and (ii) the applicant has given careful attention to detail and use of materials, landscaping and paving treatment.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued which would:

1.

permit the construction of two small-scale multi-unit housing developments on lots zoned “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)”; and

2.

vary the provisions of the Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

reduce the required front yard setback from 6.0 m to 4.5 m;

(b)

reduce the required rear yard setback from 6.0 m to 3.0 m;

(c)

permit an attached garage to be located within 6.0 m of the rear lot line; and

(d)

permit an exterior wall oriented to an interior side yard to have a continuous wall length greater than 55 per cent of the total lot depth.

CARRIED

2.

New Business

None.

3.

Date of Next Meeting:   March 25, 2026

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (3:46 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Wayne Craig

Chair

Rustico Agawin
Committee Clerk