Harbourside Waterfront’s next steps

What exactly are the next steps in the Harbourside Waterfront project? Today you will learn about the upcoming milestones on the road to creating a new and special designation on North Vancouver’s waterfront.

While not a requirement of rezoning, Concert will be organizing a Town Hall Meeting as a way of providing further public engagement. At the Town Hall, currently anticipated for September, we will present our revised application for Harbourside which includes a number of changes since it was first submitted in December 2012. The revised application integrates an updated flood management design that can be adapted for sea level rise over time; an updated transportation assessment that improves access and parking to the site and mitigates the effects of this development on surrounding neighbourhoods; and a Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) plan which includes a number of on-site and off-site amenities such as upgrades to the public park space as well as a significant cash contribution to the City.

With the feedback received from the Town Hall Meeting, we will then refine our rezoning application further before going to the City of North Vancouver’s Council. Our application, along with a comprehensive development zoning bylaw and development permit area guidelines, will be submitted to Council for what is known as “first reading”. The development zoning bylaw will regulate density, height, setbacks, site coverage and other qualitative restrictions while the development permit area guidelines document controls the form and character of the development and the public realm. If Council is satisfied with our application, the rezoning application will then be referred to a Public Hearing, anticipated for October or November. Public Hearings provide an opportunity for Council to hear from those who believe their interest in a given property may be affected by proposed changes. Following the Public Hearing, Council will make a decision on our application.

Subsequently a “parks process” will engage the public and define the exact look and feel of the park space at Harbourside. This process will re-evaluate Kings Mill Walk park and determine the programming for the 1.2 acres of additional park space which Concert is dedicating to the City. This process will be funded by Concert through part of the cash contribution and will be led by the City.

With the rezoning complete and the parks process completed, the Harbourside team will then pursue development permits for the individual buildings within the first phase of construction. Throughout the development permit stage; there will be opportunities for public consultation as well as City Advisory Body review to ensure that each and every building is a deserving addition to the community.