Chilliwack – In November, Chilliwack City Council gave first and second reading to a controversial idea. Rezoning a parcel of land on Vedder Mountain Road from Tourist to Commercial. The complex would house two levels of shops and services, a gym and a micro-brewery. While the legal text includes the words pub and night club, that won’t be the case. Parking would face the Chilliwack River and the frontage would face the mountain side.
The total package is on the south side of the Vedder where the old Vedder Bridge crossed and east of the new bridge.
The full breakdown starts on page 64 of the agenda, here.
As you would expect, various zoning issues, parking, roads, infrastructure and beefing up the river shoreline were all major items discussed at the December 3 public hearing at City Hall. Having felt that all issues were addressed, Council unanimously passed the amendments to zoning and the OCP Offical Community Plan Development.
This is an ambitious project, including other restrictions:
Occupancy of the building will be permitted until the road works are constructed to the satisfaction of the City. The developer is fully responsible to obtain all consents necessary from the grantor under the easement, as needed;
Road works must be maintained in a certain condition/standard.
The developer will not amend, release, or consent to any amendment or release of the easement without the prior written consent of the City. If the easement is at any time released by any reason, the developer will promptly and at its own cost construct an alternate access route through their property, to the satisfaction of the City.
The developer will ensure that any service and access vehicles have space to stop and parkon site, and not on the easement area (otherwise, this would be in breach of the easement).
The developer/and future owners, to acknowledge that access is provided by a private road and will release and indemnify the City against all liability (including due to lack of access,business loss, etc.) resulting from loss of this right or any redevelopment required to enable access;
The developer/and future owner, to acknowledge that access is provided by a private road that is not inspected, maintained, or patrolled by the City. Developer will need to place a sign somewhere on the road advising that this is a private road;
If drainage is implicated in the road works on the easement, the Restrictive Covenant will need to contemplate that if the easement is terminated, resulting in change to drainage pattern, the developer will need to redevelop, etc.; and,
Full indemnity in the event of flooding resulting from loss of easement and resulting change in drainage pattern.
Meanwhile, a split decision on two cannabis retail proposals.
Council approved the Vedder Road proposal (Near Thomas Road) as it met the criteria of being away from schools, and it is in a commercial area.
Council denied the application for Promontory and Tesky Road/Way.
