Background
Beginnings
Interest in improving the area where Seylynn Village will be located began in 2002, in response to concerns of local residents. Since the closing of the on-ramp from Keith Road to Highway 1 in the late 1990’s, the area was suffering from increased traffic noise and congestion. This prompted the District of North Van planning staff to commission a working group to identify ways to create a development that would mitigate the problems and greatly improve the area.
Community input on the various options that were considered showed that residents strongly supported proposals that allowed for a neighbourhood redevelopment as a way to address liveability issues, rather than proposals that attempted to protect the existing single family neighbourhood from future traffic impacts.
In the Spring of 2006, Hynes Developments Inc. (Hynes or HDI) approached the DNV with an interest in redeveloping the area. Hynes also began to acquire interests in land both north and immediately south of Fern Street. After working with DNV staff for several months, in July 2006 Hynes submitted an application to amend the Official Community Plan for the Fern Street area.
Sustainable Community Planning
During the summer and fall of 2006, DNV staff worked to establish a set of objectives for the redevelopment of the area. This culminated in the issuance, in December 2006, of a “Design Brief” by the DNV Community Planning Dept. The Design Brief outlined the preliminary vision, goals and objectives to guide the proposed Seylynn Village Neighbourhood through the community plan amendment and rezoning stages.
The Design Brief declared that fundamental to the Seylynn Village project is the desire to create a new type of urban community based on “Sustainable Community Planning," and stated:
“A Sustainable Community Planning approach encourages the development of complete communities with diverse housing, shops, jobs and community services which are connected through an effective transportation system to the larger context including the neighbourhood , nearby schools, parks, shops, and key destinations in the municipality and the region. Sustainable communities minimize energy and resource consumption, promote natural storm water flows, and protect ecological features.”
Neighbourhood Goals
To guide the development of Seylynn Village, the Design Brief set forth the following goals based on Sustainable Community Planning:
- Create a sustainable, complete and integrated neighbourhood
- Provide for diverse housing needs
- Provide an effective transportation system that supports walking, cycling and transit and reduces car dependency
- Conserve energy and resources and minimize wastes and greenhouse gas emissions
- Protect and enhance ecological features
- Recognize local heritage and enhance sense of place
- Enhance economic diversity and development
- Improve local and regional connections
Amendment of Official Community Plan (OCP); Rezoning
Since then a great many meetings, public information sessions, hearings and consultations have taken place involving residents, community groups, local business owners, government officials and others.
In January 2008 the DNV Council amended the Lower Lynn Official Community Plan to designate a new land use entitled “Seylynn Village,” which designated the Fern Street area for redevelopment to a sustainable mix of commercial, institutional, community and residential land uses.
With the OCP amendment in place, Hynes submitted a Zoning Amendment Application to DNV, in July 2008, to rezone the property to permit its development as Seylynn Village. Hynes actively worked with the DNV and its staff as the application moved forward through the rezoning process over the following months.
On May 22, 2009, the DNV planning department submitted its Report to Council, formally recommending that Council adopt the rezoning bylaws requested in the Zoning Amendment. (Click on May 22, 2009 Report to download a copy of this Report.)
At its meeting on June 1, Council considered the project and granted First Reading of the bylaws. The Public Hearing was held on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
At its July 6, 2009 meeting, Council by unanimous vote granted Second and Third Readings of the bylaws. The staff's Report to Council in connection with this meeting is available at June 22, 2009 Report.
Finally, on Monday, October 19, 2009, the bylaws received final approval when Council unanimously granted Fourth Reading. (See October 8, 2009 Report for a copy of the staff Report recommending adoption of the bylaws.)
With the necessary OCP amendment and rezoning bylaws now in place, Seylynn Village is expected to start construction in 2010.
