Wednesday December 16, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 100)
V O I C E
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On the rise: Golfer Adam Svensson will compete fulltime next year on the Web.com Tour – feeder system to the PGA – after cruising to a seven-shot victory at a qualifying tournament in Florida. i see page 45
19-storey proposal less than the 25 allowed in White Rock’s zoning, developer notes
Seniors tower eyed for uptown gateway Melissa Smalley, Tracy Holmes & Alex Browne Staff Reporters
Proponents of a highrise retirement building eyed for the the City of White Rock’s main entrance in the 1500-block of Johnston Road gave the city’s economic investment committee a sneak peek at preliminary plans for the project last week. PARC Retirement Living – based out of Vancouver – is in the early stages of putting together a major development permit for uptown White Rock, after finalizing the purchase of three properties at 1564 and 1554 Johnston Rd. and 1563 George St. last month.
Early plans call for a 19-storey independent seniors’ rental residence, with three ground-level storefront businesses, though Russell Hobbs, vice-president of construction and operations, told the committee Dec. 9 plans could change before the application is put forth. “We don’t anticipate that we’ll use the full 25 storeys that the zoning allows for,” Hobbs said. The 12 businesses currently occupying the buildings will have to vacate within about a year, according to Hobbs, who said PARC staff are working with business owners and the city to try and find new locations within
White Rock. Vic Michaluk, owner of Penguin Meats Supply Ltd. – and of the entire 1554 Johnston Rd. building it operates out of – described the upcoming change as good news for his business, for the city and for White Rock residents. The latter will appreciate that the “booming” wholesale side of the operation will be moved out of the city, he said. “So residents of White Rock won’t have to put up with all our trucks,” Michaluk said Tuesday. The retail store will relocate within White Rock, he added. “We have a site in mind and we’ve signed
a letter of intent,” he said. “It’s a very good thing for us all the way ’round.” He does not see any issue with a highrise in that location, noting it will create a better tax base for the city. “This end of town, whose view are we spoiling?” he said. Laura Shaw, of Laura’s Fashion Fabrics, agreed the chosen site is the right place for such a project. “I think it’s the perfect place where it should be,” Shaw said. “That was the original plan from years ago, that the tall stuff be right on 16th.” i see page 2
Treatment process
Chloramine picked for city water Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
White Rock’s plans to use chloramine to disinfect its water supply – officially announced this week – prompted plenty of questions, and a few concerns, from city council. In a report presented by director of engineering and municipal operations Greg St. Louis Monday, council was told that chloramination – a mix of chlorine and ammonia – is the preferred disinfection option, as it will reduce the staining of plumbing fixtures that would result from the high manganese levels in the water combining with chlorine alone. St. Louis pointed out that while chloramine – as well as chlorine – poses risks to aquatic life, he said the city has “operational procedures” in place to neutralize the chemicals before they are released into the environment. Included in St. Louis’ report was a letter from Fraser Health stating that while the health authority has no preferred method of secondary treatment, officials agreed that chloramination would be “an acceptable secondary disinfectant.” i see page 8
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Christmas chords
Boaz Joseph photo
Port Kells’ Leanne Page plays Christmas songs on her harp, accompanied by her 17-year-old son, Connor, on guitar and flute, during Saturday’s Christmas Open House at Historic Stewart Farm. The annual event at the South Surrey landmark included treats baked in the woodstove, Christmas crafts and a carol sing-along.
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