Council backs 38 storeys at Rathburn and Kariya, over staff objections
Planners asked for 29. Six councillors said the shadow study was the only thing standing between the site and 340 rental units — and voted the tower up.
The tower at the corner of Rathburn Road East and Kariya Drive will rise nine storeys higher than city planners recommended, after council voted 8-3 on Monday to approve the application as submitted.
Staff had asked the developer to cut the building to 29 storeys, citing shadow impacts on the community park immediately north of the site. The applicant declined, and brought a revised shadow study showing the park would lose direct sun for 40 minutes on the spring equinox.
Forty minutes of shade in March is not a reason to build 90 fewer homes in a city that is short 12,000 of them.
Councillor Priya Nair, Ward 7, before the vote
The Ward 1, 2 and 11 members opposed the motion, saying the decision sets aside the district plan council itself adopted eighteen months ago.