The Westwind Ratepayers’ Association will host a town hall meeting tonight (Wednesday April 29) at Westwind elementary school.
“Flowing out of the events of Monday April 20th’s Public Hearing it has been clearly communicated that the public is asking for greater education and opportunities for informed citizen input into the character and shaping of Richmond's single-family neighbourhoods,” stated the association, which now has a website, www.wrapd.org.
The association is the first of its kind in Richmond and follows suite from others around the Lower Mainland.
It’s stated purpose is to have homeowners become more involved in decision making as it relates to neighbourhood planning.
The association has taken issue with large mega, or monster homes in the Steveston neighbourhood.
One issue is properties with provincial land-use contracts that fall outside of the City of Richmond’s bylaws, allowing homes to be much higher and denser than homes regulated by the city.
There are about 4,000 residential homes under such contracts. As such the homeowners are privy to building larger homes than some of their neighbours.
In May 2014 the provincial government enacted legislation that will allow the city to terminate the contracts and put the properties under the auspices of city zoning bylaws.
Today, the City of Richmond issued the following statement on land-use contracts:
“Over the next few months, staff will bring forward a process for implementing the changes, including proposed zoning bylaws and other bylaw changes to enable the early termination of Land Use Contracts. It is anticipated that a special Public Hearing will be scheduled in late 2015 to consider the proposed changes. A comprehensive public information campaign is planned to help inform residents and other stakeholders of the proposed changes.
The process for pursuing the early termination of Land Use Contracts will be extraordinary given the number of properties involved and the required statutory process to introduce underlying zoning and pursue the early termination of Land Use Contracts. It is anticipated that attendance at the Public Hearing may require use of a special venue over several evenings in order to meet capacity demands and public interest.”
Meanwhile, Richmond City Council has also moved to eliminate flat-roof three-storey homes and third-storey balconies within its bylaws.
There is also an outstanding referral from council to city planners to better enforce building “massing.”
