Chilliwack council approves proposal to rezone mobile home park for 143-unit townhouse project

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack councillors have approved an application from a Chilliwack homebuilder to rezone and redevelop a mobile home park that will allow over 140 townhomes to be built across from Townsend Park in Chilliwack.

According to agenda item 7.9 on Tuesday’s council agenda, Westbow Construction Group had applied to rezone the property at 45111 Wolfe Road from a manufactured home park zone to an R4 low-density multi-unit residential zone to facilitate a future 143-unit townhouse development.

BC Assessment says the mobile home park at 45111 Wolfe Road is 9.02 acres in size and was built in approximately 1972. It features 57 mobile home pads. Not all of the mobile homes themselves were built in 1972, as some have construction dates of 1980 or 1987.

The subject property is located within the Chilliwack Proper neighbourhood in close proximity to several city parks, including the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre and Townsend Park. Four existing townhouse complexes are located to the east and west of the property, while Skwah First Nation is located to the north and Townsend Park is just south of the property.

Senior city planner Adam Roberts wrote in his staff report that the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Regulation govern procedures for redevelopment of a manufactured home park. In a manufactured home park, the land is owned by a landlord who rents pads out to tenants. The act permits a landlord to end a tenancy agreement and redevelop a property if specific requirements are met such as giving tenants at least 12 months’ notice once all necessary permits are issued, and a minimum $20,000 compensation.

According to the city staff report, Westbow has not given a 12-month notice yet, but has been working with residents since May 2023 to purchase units at their BC Assessment value.

To date, 10 tenants have not completed sales with Westbow, though two units are currently working through sales. Westbow intends to issue the required 12-month notice to the remaining tenants once an approved development permit has been issued. Gillian Villeneuve, director of planning for the City of Chilliwack, confirmed at Tuesday’s meeting that the developer plans to issue a 12-month notice once a development permit is approved by council. The developer has been working with the mobile home park for upwards of four years in relation to this project, city staff confirmed at Tuesday’s meeting.

Image: City of Chilliwack / Conceptual site plan for 45111 Wolfe Road.

At least three trees on site at the mobile home park will be preserved by the developer. The redevelopment does include plans for a turn lane on Wolfe Road and some degree of road widening.

No public hearing was required for Tuesday’s vote because the rezoning application was consistent with the Official Community Plan. Councillor Chris Kloot said at Tuesday’s meeting he was fully aware of the housing targets mandated by the provincial government.

City staff say a covenant will be required to be registered to the title of the property at the time of stratification to notify future residents of potential noise from the race track to the north of the property.

Councillor Harv Westeringh recused himself from Tuesday’s discussion and vote because the applicant is a family member of his.

The vote was unanimous to approve the rezoning.