EVELYN DRIVE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE, West Vancouver
District of West Vancouver council approved four development permit applications for the first four buildings in the Evelyn Drive development at Monday’s council meeting.
The proposed buildings will be in a stepped-down style, with patios and covered balconies jutting out from the apartment and houses, and will have a “low profile” from the road, said Geri Boyle, manager of community planning.
Phase 1 of the development will see four buildings going up, two along Keith Road and two on Evelyn Drive, and will include a mix of housing including apartment, townhouse and cluster-style housing.
A total of 176 new housing units are slated for construction — slightly less than the original 180 units predicted in the master plan for phase 1 of the development.
The two terraced buildings at 880 and 950 Keith Road will have 26 and 12 units respectively.
The buildings at 800 and 880 Evelyn Drive will have 67 and 71 apartments. Each building will have two separate wings, with four and five townhouses in between.
All the buildings will be made of concrete, glass and stone.
All the buildings comply with height restrictions, said Boyle in her presentation to council, and are generally consistent with the master plan.
Minor changes were made to the two walkways, which will run along the sides of the buildings connecting Keith Road, to Evelyn Drive and then to Park Royal shopping centre, to make them more accessible for people with reduced mobility.
The building plans, designed by Nick Milkovich Architects and architect Walter Francl, were given a silver LEED rating for their sustainability features, said Boyle.
The sustainability initiatives for the project include a rainwater capture system, energy-efficient appliances, and a privately owned and operated geothermal heating system that serves the area. Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones commended the developers on their approach to sustainability.
The project’s developer and design team filled the first two rows of the council chambers at Monday’s meeting, ready to answer any questions about the proposed designs from council and residents.
Coun. John Smith asked to see plans for traffic calming in the area and Boyle said that staff was waiting on $350,000 in funding from the developer to perform the study.
Increased density and a resulting spike in traffic, particularly at the busy intersection at Keith Road and Marine Drive, were the biggest concerns voiced by community members at a public hearing held in late 2006.
A roundabout where Evelyn Drive meets Keith Road is expected to help with traffic, said Boyle. Director of transportation Emil Barth said that a traffic report would come soon.
Support for phase 1 of the Evelyn Drive development from council was unanimous with all councilors voting to approve development permits for each building.
Coun. Rod Day called the designers “pioneers” for their successful efforts to design buildings to sit comfortably on a steep slope.
The Evelyn Drive development debate between council, residents and developer Millennium Properties has been ongoing for almost four years.
© North Shore News 2008
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