122 Eighth Avenue

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Consultation has concluded


Project update, August 2022: At its August 29, 2022 meeting, New Westminster City Council gave First, Second and Third Readings and approved the Rezoning Application for 122 Eighth Avenue. Click here to view the Council meeting recordings from August 29, and click here to read the Council package and all public correspondence received.

July 2022: This rezoning application was initially put before Council for a waived public hearing on May 9, 2022. It received Third Reading on May 30, 2022. The City in June 2022 realized that it has made an administrative error in the timing of the Council readings due to changes in the Local Government Act. To correct this error, the City is repealing all three readings of the bylaw and beginning a new Council approval process. This process will correct the administrative error. No changes have been made to the content of the zoning bylaw, or the proposed project. Given this, the City is not requiring the applicant to complete any additional steps in the rezoning process, as all required steps were completed previously.

New notifications were mailed to properties in the immediate vicinity, and published in the New West Record newspaper.


What's being proposed?

A rezoning application has been received for 122 Eighth Avenue. A side-by-side, ground-oriented duplex is proposed, with an overall Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 0.61. The proposed units would be family-friendly, containing three-bedrooms, and stratified. The development proposes two off-street parking spaces in accordance with Zoning Bylaw requirements, with access taken from the rear lane. Secure, weather-protected bicycle storage would be provided for each unit, as per policy expectations. Secondary suites would not be permitted.

The applicants hosted a virtual Open House with a live Q&A session on February 10, 2022 and written feedback was accepted until February 17, 2022. Based on the feedback received, the applicants worked with the City to revise their drawings to reflect the community’s comments. Click here to view the revised drawings of the proposed duplex. You can also review drawings of the original proposal here.

How can I engage?

Engagement on this project has concluded.

City-led consultation on the revised plan was held from March 22 to April 12, 2022. The addition of City-led consultation to the review process is intended to offer enhanced opportunity for public participation before the project is finalized and presented to Council. This staff-led consultation can potentially take the place of the Public Hearing.

On May 9, 2022 Council gave First and Second Reading to the Zoning Amendment Bylaw and, as the project is consistent with the Official Community Plan, has waived the Public Hearing. Council gave Third Reading of this Bylaw on May 30, 2022.

The final staff report to Council included a summary of the feedback received during both the applicant and City-led consultation processes, as well as any feedback submitted directly to staff during the project review process. You can view this report by clicking here.

There have been multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback through the application review process. The review process was iterative and revisions were considered, based on engagement feedback, throughout the process. The process involved applicant-led consultation, and City-led engagement, prior to being presented to Council for approval.


Applicant-led Engagement: Findings
Options for comment through the Applicant-led engagement included email, mail and a survey. A Virtual Open House was held on February 10, 2022 through Zoom. The feedback has been reviewed by staff and will be made publicly available in the forthcoming report to Council (not yet scheduled).

What We Heard
Two survey responses were gathered through the duration of the applicant-led consultation period, and no attendees were present at the Virtual Open House. As a result, very little feedback was received. Of those who provided comments, the majority focused on the following:

  • Support for more housing options; and,
  • Concern with the proposed removal of one tree.

Applicant Response and Revisions
In response to consultation and City feedback, the applicant has made changes to their proposal in the following key areas, which are considered to address feedback received:

  • Improvement to proposed landscaping along Eighth Avenue and the rear lane;
  • Provision of lighting along the front walkway and rear lane;
  • Inclusion of screening for waste bins on the lane.

Although retention of the mature cherry tree at the rear of the site was identified during consultation, the City Arborist has confirmed that the poor structure of this tree and the risk posed to private property residents does not make it suitable for retention. Instead, two replacement trees will be required.



Project update, August 2022: At its August 29, 2022 meeting, New Westminster City Council gave First, Second and Third Readings and approved the Rezoning Application for 122 Eighth Avenue. Click here to view the Council meeting recordings from August 29, and click here to read the Council package and all public correspondence received.

July 2022: This rezoning application was initially put before Council for a waived public hearing on May 9, 2022. It received Third Reading on May 30, 2022. The City in June 2022 realized that it has made an administrative error in the timing of the Council readings due to changes in the Local Government Act. To correct this error, the City is repealing all three readings of the bylaw and beginning a new Council approval process. This process will correct the administrative error. No changes have been made to the content of the zoning bylaw, or the proposed project. Given this, the City is not requiring the applicant to complete any additional steps in the rezoning process, as all required steps were completed previously.

New notifications were mailed to properties in the immediate vicinity, and published in the New West Record newspaper.


What's being proposed?

A rezoning application has been received for 122 Eighth Avenue. A side-by-side, ground-oriented duplex is proposed, with an overall Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 0.61. The proposed units would be family-friendly, containing three-bedrooms, and stratified. The development proposes two off-street parking spaces in accordance with Zoning Bylaw requirements, with access taken from the rear lane. Secure, weather-protected bicycle storage would be provided for each unit, as per policy expectations. Secondary suites would not be permitted.

The applicants hosted a virtual Open House with a live Q&A session on February 10, 2022 and written feedback was accepted until February 17, 2022. Based on the feedback received, the applicants worked with the City to revise their drawings to reflect the community’s comments. Click here to view the revised drawings of the proposed duplex. You can also review drawings of the original proposal here.

How can I engage?

Engagement on this project has concluded.

City-led consultation on the revised plan was held from March 22 to April 12, 2022. The addition of City-led consultation to the review process is intended to offer enhanced opportunity for public participation before the project is finalized and presented to Council. This staff-led consultation can potentially take the place of the Public Hearing.

On May 9, 2022 Council gave First and Second Reading to the Zoning Amendment Bylaw and, as the project is consistent with the Official Community Plan, has waived the Public Hearing. Council gave Third Reading of this Bylaw on May 30, 2022.

The final staff report to Council included a summary of the feedback received during both the applicant and City-led consultation processes, as well as any feedback submitted directly to staff during the project review process. You can view this report by clicking here.

There have been multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback through the application review process. The review process was iterative and revisions were considered, based on engagement feedback, throughout the process. The process involved applicant-led consultation, and City-led engagement, prior to being presented to Council for approval.


Applicant-led Engagement: Findings
Options for comment through the Applicant-led engagement included email, mail and a survey. A Virtual Open House was held on February 10, 2022 through Zoom. The feedback has been reviewed by staff and will be made publicly available in the forthcoming report to Council (not yet scheduled).

What We Heard
Two survey responses were gathered through the duration of the applicant-led consultation period, and no attendees were present at the Virtual Open House. As a result, very little feedback was received. Of those who provided comments, the majority focused on the following:

  • Support for more housing options; and,
  • Concern with the proposed removal of one tree.

Applicant Response and Revisions
In response to consultation and City feedback, the applicant has made changes to their proposal in the following key areas, which are considered to address feedback received:

  • Improvement to proposed landscaping along Eighth Avenue and the rear lane;
  • Provision of lighting along the front walkway and rear lane;
  • Inclusion of screening for waste bins on the lane.

Although retention of the mature cherry tree at the rear of the site was identified during consultation, the City Arborist has confirmed that the poor structure of this tree and the risk posed to private property residents does not make it suitable for retention. Instead, two replacement trees will be required.


Consultation has concluded

Have a question about 122 Eighth Avenue? Add it here and we will aim to reply within five business days. For more complex questions or multiple queries, the response process may require additional time as we prepare a comprehensive answer. In these cases, we will aim to get back to you within 10 business days and kindly request your patience as we do so. If we think your question would be of interest to others, we'll post your question and our response here. Thanks!

  • Share Wondering about the other tree behind the house. I believe its a cedar, Very large. will it be kept? on Facebook Share Wondering about the other tree behind the house. I believe its a cedar, Very large. will it be kept? on Twitter Share Wondering about the other tree behind the house. I believe its a cedar, Very large. will it be kept? on Linkedin Email Wondering about the other tree behind the house. I believe its a cedar, Very large. will it be kept? link

    Wondering about the other tree behind the house. I believe its a cedar, Very large. will it be kept?

    lynne mossey asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question. Yes, the large Douglas Fir tree at the rear of the property behind the house will be retained. To this end, the City Arborist has required the property owner implement a number of measures to ensure the design of the duplex has little impact on the tree, and that it receives the proper care needed to remain a healthy and valuable tree long after the duplex is built.  

  • Share Follow-up question about the specimen tree near the back alley: Has the city discussed the option of pruning the cherry tree and monitoring it for stabilizing/improving health with the arborist? This may be less disruptive to urban forest ecosystem biodiversity than replacing such a mature tree with younger age classes already common in the neighborhood. on Facebook Share Follow-up question about the specimen tree near the back alley: Has the city discussed the option of pruning the cherry tree and monitoring it for stabilizing/improving health with the arborist? This may be less disruptive to urban forest ecosystem biodiversity than replacing such a mature tree with younger age classes already common in the neighborhood. on Twitter Share Follow-up question about the specimen tree near the back alley: Has the city discussed the option of pruning the cherry tree and monitoring it for stabilizing/improving health with the arborist? This may be less disruptive to urban forest ecosystem biodiversity than replacing such a mature tree with younger age classes already common in the neighborhood. on Linkedin Email Follow-up question about the specimen tree near the back alley: Has the city discussed the option of pruning the cherry tree and monitoring it for stabilizing/improving health with the arborist? This may be less disruptive to urban forest ecosystem biodiversity than replacing such a mature tree with younger age classes already common in the neighborhood. link

    Follow-up question about the specimen tree near the back alley: Has the city discussed the option of pruning the cherry tree and monitoring it for stabilizing/improving health with the arborist? This may be less disruptive to urban forest ecosystem biodiversity than replacing such a mature tree with younger age classes already common in the neighborhood.

    variedthrush asked about 2 years ago

    As this tree is located on private property, one of the other important considerations for the City is the risk and financial burden that the tree would pose to the property owner if it were retained. As this tree is large and in active decline, retaining it would pose a risk to the health and safety of the property owner and residents, while its remediation would be a considerable responsibility for new owners. Instead, the City has concentrated on preserving the mature and healthy Douglas fir, which will require almost no maintenance and poses little risk to people and property, and to selecting and placing two new trees. These new trees will become contributors to the urban forest and their long-term benefits should exceed the benefits this cherry will provide in its last years.

  • Share I have a question regarding a mature cherry tree located at the southeast corner of the 122 8th Ave property, adjacent to the alley. I notice that the re-zoning application proposes removing this tree to build a carport, "due to poor health and location". I live in the area and this tree outwardly appears quite healthy to me. It produces a full leaf canopy and a large amount of fruit each spring, which seem provide substantial ecosystem services and habitat values (particularly for songbirds). Since this vicinity lacks other mature deciduous trees of this size and structure, it seems that removing this tree could substantially degrade conditions for wildlife. Has this tree been assessed by a city arborist? And has consideration been given to revising the design of the carports to protect and retain this tree? on Facebook Share I have a question regarding a mature cherry tree located at the southeast corner of the 122 8th Ave property, adjacent to the alley. I notice that the re-zoning application proposes removing this tree to build a carport, "due to poor health and location". I live in the area and this tree outwardly appears quite healthy to me. It produces a full leaf canopy and a large amount of fruit each spring, which seem provide substantial ecosystem services and habitat values (particularly for songbirds). Since this vicinity lacks other mature deciduous trees of this size and structure, it seems that removing this tree could substantially degrade conditions for wildlife. Has this tree been assessed by a city arborist? And has consideration been given to revising the design of the carports to protect and retain this tree? on Twitter Share I have a question regarding a mature cherry tree located at the southeast corner of the 122 8th Ave property, adjacent to the alley. I notice that the re-zoning application proposes removing this tree to build a carport, "due to poor health and location". I live in the area and this tree outwardly appears quite healthy to me. It produces a full leaf canopy and a large amount of fruit each spring, which seem provide substantial ecosystem services and habitat values (particularly for songbirds). Since this vicinity lacks other mature deciduous trees of this size and structure, it seems that removing this tree could substantially degrade conditions for wildlife. Has this tree been assessed by a city arborist? And has consideration been given to revising the design of the carports to protect and retain this tree? on Linkedin Email I have a question regarding a mature cherry tree located at the southeast corner of the 122 8th Ave property, adjacent to the alley. I notice that the re-zoning application proposes removing this tree to build a carport, "due to poor health and location". I live in the area and this tree outwardly appears quite healthy to me. It produces a full leaf canopy and a large amount of fruit each spring, which seem provide substantial ecosystem services and habitat values (particularly for songbirds). Since this vicinity lacks other mature deciduous trees of this size and structure, it seems that removing this tree could substantially degrade conditions for wildlife. Has this tree been assessed by a city arborist? And has consideration been given to revising the design of the carports to protect and retain this tree? link

    I have a question regarding a mature cherry tree located at the southeast corner of the 122 8th Ave property, adjacent to the alley. I notice that the re-zoning application proposes removing this tree to build a carport, "due to poor health and location". I live in the area and this tree outwardly appears quite healthy to me. It produces a full leaf canopy and a large amount of fruit each spring, which seem provide substantial ecosystem services and habitat values (particularly for songbirds). Since this vicinity lacks other mature deciduous trees of this size and structure, it seems that removing this tree could substantially degrade conditions for wildlife. Has this tree been assessed by a city arborist? And has consideration been given to revising the design of the carports to protect and retain this tree?

    variedthrush asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question and for sharing your personal knowledge of this tree. The City considers all applications for tree removals very carefully, taking into account different considerations such as their location, health, species, size and contribution to the local ecosystem. Though this tree may appear outwardly healthy, the City arborist has confirmed that over time, poor pruning has made this tree susceptible to disease and decay, and we are now starting to see signs of decline. As a result, the City feels that it would be best to request two new replacement trees in exchange for its removal. The size and species of these trees will be specified by the City arborist, who considers urban biodiversity and the suitability of trees to the local climate and context in his recommendations.