Hello Neighbors!
We are excited about the opportunity to continue to contribute to the growth of Esquimalt and are pleased to present this reviewed proposal. We acknowledge that we are building and living on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen People.
Form of Development
After considerable reviews with planning staff and In response to the Council meeting on December 5th
22-569 Public Hearing - Rezoning - 734 Sea Terrace, Staff Report No.: DEV-22-104
We are proposing a development which aligns with the current policies and initiatives of the Township of Esquimalt.
The proposed development will be a 4-storey residential building with a different range of unit sizes, from studio suites, one-bedroom, two bedroom and three-bedroom units. The units will be larger than average, with 66% proposed as non-studio units to support young families.
The 9,775 square foot property is one of the last remaining single family home lots in an otherwise all multi-story, multi-family neighborhood.
It is a great spot to support Esquimalt’s goals of smart in-fill growth and densification.
There has been considerable growth and development in the neighborhood in recent years and this proposal seeks to align with these additions.
Located on the Esquimalt-Victoria border, this property is one-block from public transit on Esquimalt Road and is very close to the Westsong Walkway and the Kimata Road/E&N Connector Multi-Use Trail.
Proposed Site
We are proposing to enhance the supply of non-luxury residential dwelling units in Esquimalt by addressing a prevailing need, attainable housing
The site has a Walk Score of 60 with ratings including ‘Good Transit’ and ‘Bikeable’.
Building Plans
734 Sea Terrace has been designed to respond to the current market and the West Bay Design Guidelines.
The front of the building has a welcoming presence when approached from either Dunsmuir or Sea Terrace. The presence of the V-shaped support features at the first-floor entrance visually opens up the glazed indoor lobby and the covered outdoor community porch. Creating a Special Presence Frontage As a key corner location, the handsome northwest façade column is the “street-end view” when driving east on Dunsmuir.
The western face of the building fronts onto a combination of private and public Right-Of-Ways, and the proposed building is located at either an equal or greater distance from the adjacent buildings, as the recently approved building at 835 Dunsmuir is removed from the 831 Dunsmuir development.
The outdoor plaza furniture and west facing entrances become the “street-end view” when driving along Dunsmuir.
The landscape plan shows a mini-plaza with hard and soft landscaping at the intersection of Sea Terrace and Dunsmuir, with sitting benches and a Free Library book box.
The design will feature large windows, modern finishing and usable balconies, with larger south and west-facing windows and decks to allow winter passive heating.
The lot is included in the OCP design guidelines as a mid-rise lot, and its uniqueness, identified as ideal for that use, lies not only in the context of the neighbourhood that currently has 4, 5 and 3-story buildings immediately adjacent to it but also in the particularity of it. For instance, this lot is bounded to the west by a large and richly landscaped right of way, creating a sizeable natural landscape buffer not only with neighbouring properties but also for pedestrians and vehicles along Dunsmuir. To the south boundary, there are several significantly sized Douglas Fir trees and an existing four stories building, creating a natural step-down transition.