Richmond city council plans to issue formal letters opposing the provincial government's pressure to build up to eight-storey buildings on 11 single-family properties in Burkeville.
This topic was discussed during Tuesday's general purposes committee meeting by council and the Sea Island Community Association.
Provincial legislation requires rezoning to allow densification of single-family neighbourhoods in all municipalities, with higher densification near rapid transit.
The 11 Burkeville properties along Lancaster Crescent fall within 800 metres of the Aberdeen Canada Line Station — this radius around a rapid transit station is known as a transit-oriented area (TOA) and requires higher density than in other areas of Richmond.
However, residents would need to cross the Fraser River via the Moray Channel Bridge on foot, a distance closer to two kilometres than 800 metres.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie described the province's approach to densifying Burkeville as "ridiculous," with Coun. Kash Heed calling it an "asinine decision."
"We've not gained a lot of ground in terms of the province, but we are fairly unrelenting in this," said Brodie.
"The province's point of view is that they are not interested in the urban impacts of any situation. Notwithstanding they brought in one set of guidelines for the entire province and they think there's not going to be any exceptions to that.
"It just doesn't make sense. Obviously, we don't accept that."
Brodie was skeptical over the province's belief that eight- or nine-storey buildings in the proposed corridor of Burkeville would reduce car use.
"There's going to be more cars than ever and you're going to take a nice neighbourhood and turn it into a parking nightmare," he said.
Heed and Coun. Andy Hobbs questioned whether the province had "(done) any work" when they created this cookie-cutter guideline for all municipalities.
"Unless they're going to build a little moat that goes across from Burkeville to Aberdeen Station, it's ridiculous," said Heed.
Hobbs echoed Heed adding there is "no clear local knowledge being applied" in the province's decision.
Tamás Revoczi, president of the Sea Island Community Association, supports the city's decision to tell the province Burkeville is not suitable to be included in the Aberdeen Station TOA.
"We are grateful for the city's and YVR's awareness and consideration of this matter," said Revoczi.
Building eight-storey buildings in Burkeville would be "terrible" and the diagram and map of the TOA involving Burkeville "looks like a mistake quite frankly," according to Revoczi.
He described Burkeville as a "rare" semi-rural neighbourhood in an urban environment, adding that densification would disrupt that.
"We are grateful and thankful for the (city's) protection against the province's decision."
The Sea Island Community Association will submit a letter, alongside city council's letter opposing the province's densification plan for Burkeville.
Additionally, Brodie has requested council to seek discussions with the Minister of Housing and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure at UBCM to discuss the outstanding issues relating to Burkeville.
With files from Adam Campbell
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