A new townhouse complex proposed along the Haney Bypass is moving ahead after being in the system for half a dozen years.
Last week, council gave the final OK to a zoning bylaw for the project.
NAG Construction wants to build 43 townhouses on a triangular shaped piece of property that’s already been cleared and awaiting development and which lies between the bypass and 113th Avenue, at 228th Street.
Some of new homes will be built on the slope overlooking the Fraser River with southern exposure, while those that are built along 113th Avenue will have a “street-front” appearance with entry doors, gates and walkways on to the street.
Access to the complex will be off of 113th Avenue, says a report to Maple Ridge council.
About at third of the units will have double-wide garages and the remainder, tandem garages, where cars have to park behind each other.
Staff say that the proposal fits with the design principles of the southern portion of the town centre area plan because it provides a range of housing types, maximizes views of the river, provides open space and pedestrian access through walking paths.
Another feature is the use of natural vegetation as well as construction of a biofiltration pond to filter rainwater runoff from roads and roofs before it’s discharged to a nearby wetlands area.
The report notes that the location was previously used as a fill site, but has been regraded with structural fill brought in as required by a geotechnical report.
Several green building features are part of the project, such as large windows, maximizing daylight, roof overhangs to maximize shade against summer sun, along with use of sustainable building materials.
Outdoor parking spots will be made of permeable paving stones allowing rain water to seep into the ground and recharge groundwater instead of flowing into storm sewers.
Initial application for the project took place in 2011. The preceding council gave it second and third reading in 2013, followed by two extensions in the following years.
Water tower
Maple Ridge is building a new water tower so it can supply the firefighting needs of the growing Silver Valley subdivision.
The tower is called the Rock Ridge Reservoir Tank 2 and will provide backup fire, emergency and pump-balancing capacity and meet the needs of the entire Silver Valley subdivision once it’s built out.
The reservoir will also ensure that there’s enough water pressure in Silver Valley in case of emergency.
The new tower will cost $1.8 million and will be located near 240th Street between two stems of Millionaire Creek, next to the existing water tower.
Council decided to go with the lowest bid by Timbro Contracting at its Tuesday meeting.
The tower has to be ready by June in order to meet the peak water needs during the hotter summers.