A proposed apartment building at the intersection of Handlen Road and Kelly Road South is one step closer to approval.
On Monday night, city council approved third reading of a bylaw to rezone vacant land at 4393 Handlen Rd. to facilitate development of an apartment of up to 40 units and four storeys in height. Final reading of the bylaw won’t be considered by city council until the developer, a numbered B.C. company, submits a servicing brief to city administration’s satisfaction.
City council has received a total of seven letters and emails from area residents opposed to the development, another seven raising concerns and five in support of the project. Many of those opposed or concerned about the project raised the issue of traffic and the lack of sidewalks for children walking to nearby Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School and Heather Park Elementary School.
“There will be a small amount increase in traffic and it is well-known in that area it is a difficult place, especially in both the morning and afternoon,” Coun. Trudy Klassen said. “It is a huge concern there. There has been so many accidents on that intersection itself, with Highway 97, because it has such heavy equipment and so many kids walking to school there, it is… a frequent problem mentioned to me by residents.”
City director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik said that the applicant has submitted a traffic impact study, and the development is expected to increase traffic by a maximum of 17 vehicles per hour during the morning and evening peak times.
“It’s been deemed that Kelly Road and Handlen Road can take the capacity of that new traffic that is being generated by the proposed multi-family (development),” Wasnik said.
Given the small amount of additional traffic, no further traffic studies are required, she said.
