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Ten townhomes planned for central Maple Ridge

And another project will preserve heritage house and allow new apartment building in Port Haney

Another 10 more residences will be added to densify the downtown.

The project, at 12385 – 224th St., on the southwest corner of the intersection, to allow construction of 10 town homes, received third reading last fall. But a development permit to regulate the appearance and a development variance permit to vary some of the setbacks and heights of the project are needed. A council committee considered the request Monday.

The project would fit on to two regular lots and have access off 124th Avenue, which leads into a laneway between the strata units.

Another 33-townhouse project is planned immediately to the south. The southeast corner of the lot is beyond the 15-metre stream setback for a tributary to Morse Creek, so a watercourse development project permit isn’t needed. Street trees would also be added as part of the project.

Preserving heritage

A new apartment building for Port Haney would preserve heritage and provide living space, if approved by council.

Bissky Architecture and Urban Design has applied for a heritage revitalization agreement that would allow a five-year municipal property tax exemption and reduced parking standards.

The agreement would allow the renovation and conversion of the old Turnock/Morse home at St. Anne Avenue and 223rd Street, into a duplex that would be located on the southeast corner of the lot. Behind it, will be a four-storey apartment building that will have 66 one- and two-bedroom units.

The Cape Cod style home was built in 1938 by Joseph Turnock and is on the Maple Ridge heritage inventory.

He and his wife a few years later gave the home to their daughter Iris, who had just married Garnet Robert Morse, ancestor to past Maple Ridge mayors Bell and Kathy Morse.

If approved, the heritage agreement will be the fourth of its kind in which five-year tax exemptions are given in return for preserving old buildings. Other agreements cover the Billy Miner Pub, the Miller residence and the former home of Mayor Ernie Daykin and his family on Dewdney Trunk Road and 230th Street, where a similar project is proposed.

Coun. Bob Masse pointed out the tax exemption only applies to the old building that will be preserved rather than the new structure.