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Revised bylaw proposes duplexes on corners at Bear’s Paw Heights

The Town of Golden council continues to discuss an agreement for the Bear’s Paw Heights request for duplexes in the subdivision.
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The Town of Golden council continues to discuss an agreement for the Bear’s Paw Heights request for duplexes in the subdivision.

On January 29, the Town of Golden council hosted a well-attended public hearing in regards to a zoning amendment for the Bear’s Paw Heights Duplex. While residents of Selkirk Hill spoke out against construction of multiple duplex units along Juniper Street in the subdivision, the developer stated his support for a revised bylaw which would only include allowing duplexes on proposed corner lots.

Residents were concerned for an increase in density in the area, including an increase in potential renters, and vehicles using the road. They also voiced concerns for required setbacks, and that duplexes would not fit the character of Selkirk Hill.

Following the public hearing, town council considered the feedback from both oral and written submissions, and passed a “second reading as amended,” and directed staff to proceed with a second public hearing, which will be held on March 19 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

The amendment removed the four proposed “flexible residential” lots on Juniper Street, and moves forward with consideration for four proposed flexible residential lots on the corners of Cedar and Willow Streets, and Juniper and Willow Streets. There are proposed changes to the lot area, frontage, and setbacks for duplexes that are applicable in the flexible residential zone, as well as twin residential, twin residential sensitive, and multi-flex residential zones.

“The idea of corner lots has already been introduced in the previous phase of Bear’s Paw,” explained Town of Golden planner and manager of development services Phil Armstrong.

There have not been any duplexes built in Golden in almost 10 years, he added. Now, there are a couple of local builders who are interested in adding duplexes to Golden’s housing market. A majority of houses in Golden have been built as single family residential homes.

“They are kind of a medium housing option. It’s not a multi-family development, but it’s something a local builder can finance easily,” Armstrong said. “It’s something that they can do more easily than a large condo development or town house development. In that sense, it’s a way of creating more attainable housing.”

The Official Community Plan (OCP) states that Golden is to maximize infrastructure, and has goals to create more attainable housing options, and create compact communities.

“That’s council’s sort of guiding land use document,” Armstrong said about the OCP.

Property values in Golden have been on the rise, and a town council staff report states that diversifying a neighbourhood of single detached dwellings and semi-detached dwellings like duplexes would not be over-densification, and does not represent a significant shift in neighbourhood character.

The duplexes proposed would be an increase to density, however phase three of Bear’s Paw Heights is considered low density. The staff report does say that when proposing new development, surrounding buildings and architectural style should be taken into consideration by the developer.

The following public hearing will allow residents to submit their opinions on the matter via written submission leading up to March 19, and oral submission at the hearing itself.