May 13, 2026 - Minutes

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Remote (Zoom) Meeting

Present:

Wayne Craig, General Manager, Planning and Development, Chair

Roeland Zwaag, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works

Todd Gross, Director, Parks Services

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on April 29, 2026 be adopted.

CARRIED

1.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-046836

 (REDMS No. 8372394)

APPLICANT:

Interface Architecture Inc.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

5471, 5491/5493, 5531, 5551, 5571, 5591, 5595 and 5611/5613 Steveston Highway

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

Permit the construction of 30 townhouse units at 5471, 5491/5493, 5531, 5551, 5571, 5591, 5595 and 5611/5613 Steveston Highway on a site zoned “Medium Density Townhouses (RTM2)”; and

2.

Vary the provisions of Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

reduce the minimum front yard setback from 6.0 m to 4.5 m; and

(b)

reduce the minimum exterior side yard setback from 6.0 m to 5.1 m.

Applicant’s Comments

Ken Chow, applicant, 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 subject site comprises eight properties that extends west to Lassam Road and east to an existing 28-unit townhouse development;

§   

the subject site layout has a mid-site entry with an east-west drive aisle, two amenity areas that includes an amenity building, children’s play area, mailboxes, and seating;

§   

the subject site will include three-storey units fronting Steveston Highway and two-storey duplexes on the north side;

§   

the developer is providing four solar panels per unit, five accessible duplex units and seven lock-off/secondary suites units that will be built out at project start;

§   

the landscape site plan includes twoexisting trees to be retained, including a noble fir tree located on the west side of the subject site.Two maple trees that will be evaluated and transplanted to the central amenity area at the time of construction;

§   

garbage and recycling will be door-to-door curbside pick-up; and

§   

the form and character of the building reflects a seaside design that features pitched roofs and gables, vertically oriented windows, soffit brackets, a light and neutral colour palette, board-and-batten siding, shed roofs over the main floor, and accentuated door entries for each unit.

Meredith Mitchell, M2 Landscape Architecture Inc., with the aid of the same visual presentation, briefed the Panel on the main landscape features of the project noting (i) the existing tree and amenity building area will include bark mulch and height appropriate plantings, (ii) additional plantings and the two retained maple trees will provide screening between the central amenity area and the rear yards, (iii) the duplex units will include patios and stairs down to the lawn with perimeter plantings adjacent to the fencing, (iv) privacy fencing and plantings will also be installed between each unit, (v) an additional tree is proposed at the end of the west drive aisle to provide separation between the parking area and the amenity area, and (vi) a gazebo will incorporate the mailboxes in the central amenity area.

In reply to queries from the Panel, the applicant noted that (i) the street frontage yards are all independent and designed to look like a single family homes with clear sight lines along the walkways to the City sidewalk, (ii) the front yards include patios and lawn space on each side of the walkways with plantings in between the sidewalk and the fencing; (iii) standard caliper trees along the frontage allows privacy screening between the fence and sidewalk, (iv) the amenity building area includes a covered pergola, patio seating and barbeque space, with ground oriented lighting at the base of the existing tree, and (v) the central amenity space includes the covered mailbox area, a children’s play area designed for different age groups and an open lawn area.

Staff Comments

Joshua Reis, Director, Development noted that (i) the proposed development includes seven ground level lock-off units/secondary suites, (ii) all units in the development include aging in place features, (iii) five units are designed to meet the City’s basic universal housing requirements and includes features that supports individuals in wheelchairs, (iv) access to Steveston Highway is restricted to right in, right out only, (v) proposed solar panels will provide electricity to the common areas of the development and would reduce common area electrical consumption, and (vi) as a condition of the rezoning, the applicant is required to enter a servicing agreement for frontage and utility works.

Panel Discussion

The Panel commented on the use and choice of landscaping for the project site and suggested to eliminate the heather plantings by the visitor parking stall adjacent to Unit D and replacing it with paving material.

In reply to query from Panel, the applicant noted that the strata council is responsible for maintaining the lawn areas.

In reply to further queries from Panel, the Chair noted that as a condition of the permits, the applicant must post a landscape security deposit for the installation with a 10% holdback to ensure a one-year survivability.

In reply to further queries from Panel, the applicant noted that the indoor amenity building is a multipurpose space for gatherings and meetings and includes a washroom and small sink and microwave area.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

The Panel expressed support for the application noting (i) the applicant’s attention to detail within the design, (ii) the inclusion of the built accessible units, (iii) the inclusion of the solar PV for sustainable and green energy production, and (iv) future connection to the existing townhouse complex to the east for emergency drive aisle access will require modifications to the fencing on the adjacent property and the Panel encourages frequent communication with the adjacent strata council prior to work commencing.

The Panel directed staff will work with the applicant to review the landscaping adjacent to the visitor parking stall.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued which would:

1.

permit the construction of 30 townhouse units at 5471, 5491/5493, 5531, 5551, 5571, 5591, 5595 and 5611/5613 Steveston Highway on a site zoned “Medium Density Townhouses (RTM2)”; and

2.

vary the provisions of the Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

reduce the minimum front yard setback from 6.0 m to 4.5 m; and

(b)

reduce the minimum exterior side yard setback from 6.0 m to 5.1 m.

CARRIED

2.

New Business

None.

3.

Date of Next Meeting:  May 27, 2026

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:14 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, May 13, 2026.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Wayne Craig

Chair

Andrea Mizuguchi

Legislative Services Associate