Chilliwack homeowner clashes with City Council over rezoning, densification

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack homeowner clashed with members of the Chilliwack City Council at their meeting this past week over an application to demolish a home in his neighbourhood and facilitate a four-lot subdivision.

James Reddyk, who lives near the property in question and bought his home in 2015, objected repeatedly to the proposal by OTG Developments Ltd. to demolish the home at 46852 First Avenue and develop four bare-land strata lots.

Reddyk was the only person to speak against the development at the public hearing Tuesday night (Jul. 5).

Image: Supplied by City of Chilliwack from live video of Council meeting. James Reddyk speaks against a rezoning application in his neighbourhood.

“I’m against all of this because I don’t think that four houses in that lot is necessary,” he said. “I’ve lived there since 2015. Not once has the landowner come over to me and introduced himself. Four houses are kind of ridiculous.”

Councillor Chris Kloot sought to clarify whether Reddyk supported the four-lot redevelopment. Documentation provided by the developer actually listed a James Reddyk as being in favour of the development. Reddyk flatly denied that.

“I told the applicant I’m not supportive,” he insisted. “And I wasn’t interested in signing his thing that he had at the time. I know one of my other neighbours isn’t supportive either.”

Responding on behalf of the developer, Shannon Webb of Quadra Island said he didn’t know what transpired during the consultation process with surrounding neighbours.

“I’m not sure what happened there,” Webb said. “I do know the owner approached every one of his immediate neighbours and presented the proposal and gained signatures of support from all neighbours. I’m not sure, maybe it was a different family member that signed the information. He presented it back to me and was very happy and proud of his achievements because he felt that he represented the proposal very well.”

Councillor Jeff Shields reviewed the list of affirming signatures furnished by the developer and noted there were several neighbours who wrote yes on a sheet of paper, but there were no signatures for two of the yeses.

“Being a planning consultant, I’ve knocked on doors before,” Webb said via teleconference. “We get the odd person that indicates that they’re not in support or whatever. I think the owner indicated there were one or two people that said, ‘Yeah, I like the idea, I’m not going to object, but I’m not happy to sign.’ I was of the understanding that there was only neighbour that expressed those concerns.”

Reddyk said he made it abundantly clear that he did not support the proposal.

“I made it very clear to him that I wasn’t for it,” Reddyk said.

According to Reddyk, the property at 46852 First Avenue is overgrown with vegetation and blackberries and lacks sufficient upkeep. He says his kids cut themselves when they walk by the home.

Reddyk questioned why Chilliwack needs to densify when it hasn’t brought down prices in Vancouver, let alone Chilliwack. He argued that Canada is a vast country requiring six days to drive across it and shouldn’t pile people on top of one another.

But Shields responded that Canada was in the midst of a housing shortage and the City of Chilliwack was simply looking at the best use of land.

“We have a housing shortage,” Shields said. “Much like you live in Chilliwack, everybody wants to live out here. As far as council goes right now, we’re looking at what’s the best use of land and how we can get affordable housing into Chilliwack. You may not like our decision. That’s what we’re basing it on.”

Reddyk challenged the notion that adding more housing stock in Chilliwack will reduce prices.

“The way I see it, he can rent this house out for $2,000 a month,” he asserted. “He puts four houses on there, he’s making $8,000 a month. The rental prices haven’t gotten any cheaper. It’ll probably be more to rent a new house than an old house.”

Mayor Ken Popove encouraged Reddyk to confer with the landowner as development progresses.

Council subsequently passed the zoning bylaw amendment.