By Dan Ferguson
Staff Reporter Jun 01 2005 Public hearing on 'massive' project set for June
16
The giant Delsom Estates development was given
preliminary approval by Delta council Monday night,
despite some concerns about the density of the
proposed project.
The 100-acre site plan calls for up to 1,000 housing
units, only about 100 of them single-family homes.
All the rest are two- to three-storey townhouses,
plus some five-storey buildings in a mixed
commercial-residential area.
Council had to exempt the project from existing
density guidelines which would have restricted the
maximum building height and commercial square
footage, something that doesn't sit well with some
residents and a minority of council.
"These bylaws ... eliminate all protection policies
the neighbouring community has," warned resident
Jill Gillett, one of a number of residents who
complained they will be overshadowed by the taller,
denser Delsom buildings.
Her view was backed by Councillors Vicki Huntington
and Krista Engelland, with Engelland decrying the
design as a "total, massive buildout."
"It's just too dense," she said.
The two wanted to postpone a public hearing on the
proposal to allow more fine-tuning, but were
overruled by the rest of council, which voted to
send the proposal to public hearing on June 16.
Coun. Bruce McDonald said the plan has always been
to increase density to allow Delta residents who
want to downsize to buy smaller homes.
"I don't think it's realistic that this whole 100
acres be reserved for single-family housing."
