High-rise approved despite opposition
City council has approved a 16-storey high-rise in the McLennan neighbourhood, despite fierce opposition from neighbouring residents.
“Please consider the impact to the existing residents,” wrote Danny Mah in one of 24 written submissions concerning 9099 Cook Rd. “Do we know how much money is the developer making [sic]? Can they make less and give us a better neighbourhood?”
A total of 159 signatures on two petitions in opposition were also presented to council, which granted conditional approval to the project at a public hearing last week.
Concord Pacific Developments Inc. is behind the tower, which also includes a six-storey mid-rise building over a parking structure with 11 two-storey townhouse units at ground level.
The treed site, at Cook and Garden City roads, borders newer high-rise towers to the north and south.
Nearly two dozen residents spoke at the July 26 public hearing, complaining the new high-rise would be too close to existing buildings—blocking views and sunlight—and overwhelm the neighbourhood with traffic, parking and noise problems.
Others said they weren’t informed of the proposal.
Although council approved the project, it asked staff to review traffic and transit plans in the area, and review the city’s procedures in notifying residents about proposed developments.
Another high-rise proposal—a 10-storey hotel at 8540 Alexandra Rd.—attracted a handful of opponents concerned about traffic and density, but it was also approved by council.
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