Delta's new council to rule on townhouse driveway dispute in North Delta
City staff say a developer's two-driveway plan for two four-unit townhouse sites on 83 Avenue would cut street parking from seven spaces to one.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on delta-optimist.com.
Delta's new City Council holds its first meeting today, 2 November 2026, and among the decisions it will inherit is a two-year-old dispute over driveways at two North Delta townhouse sites.
City of Delta staff say a developer's plan to put two driveways per lot at 11220 and 11230 83 Avenue would cut the street's on-street parking from seven spaces to one and would reduce safety for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the Delta Optimist. The outgoing council passed the decision to the new members at its final meeting on 26 October.
What the applications propose
Both sites on 83 Avenue in North Delta seek permission to build four-unit townhouses. Each application asks for two driveways per lot, with vehicle access from 83 Avenue. Together the two sites would hold eight units. The applications were first submitted in 2022.
Delta's standard for townhouse sites requires one driveway per lot. Council required the applicant to revise the designs to meet that standard earlier this year. The applicant reviewed the requirement and submitted new arguments for keeping the original two-driveway design.
What staff found
A City staff report says the two-driveway plan reduces on-street parking, reduces safety for all transportation modes and removes boulevard green space, according to the Delta Optimist. The stretch of 83 Avenue in front of the two lots currently holds seven street parking spaces, according to the staff report. The staff report says those would fall to one space if the two-driveway request is approved.
Staff noted that because the applications were submitted in 2022, they are not subject to a sidewalk requirement along 83 Avenue frontage that Delta adopted in a bylaw in 2024.
What the applicant argues
In a letter submitted through Hearth Architectural Inc., the applicant argued that a modified proposal gives a better balance of private outdoor space, landscaping, permeability, privacy, parking and traffic safety than a one-driveway design. The letter said that access from a proposed traffic-calmed 83 Avenue, combined with shifting one building 1.5 metres eastward to improve intersection visibility, would make the site safer while keeping the scale in line with the surrounding neighbourhood.
The letter also said the development is important to the home-owners involved, who are described as families trying to keep extended families together.
Why the new council decides
The outgoing council agreed at its 26 October meeting that these applications were better suited for the newly elected members to consider. The council did not reject or approve either application.
Mayor Melissa Granum promised during her campaign to open a public review of Delta's Official Community Plan as one of her first acts in office. That plan sets the city-wide rules for housing and development. Her tracker at /bc/delta-2026/tracker records the status of that promise.
Residents near 11220 and 11230 83 Avenue can watch Delta's council agenda pages for when the applications come forward. Council meetings are open to the public and include time for residents to speak.
Questions this story answers
What are the two applications?
Two separate applications propose four-unit townhouses at 11220 83 Avenue and 11230 83 Avenue in North Delta. Each application asks for two driveways per lot, where Delta's standard requires one per lot for townhouse sites. Together the two sites would hold eight units. The applications were first submitted in 2022.
What do City staff say about the two-driveway plan?
City of Delta staff say the two-driveway plan would reduce on-street parking on 83 Avenue from seven spaces to one space and would reduce safety for all transportation modes. Staff also say it would eliminate boulevard green space. Staff have consistently asked the applicant to revise to one driveway per lot throughout the planning process, according to the Delta Optimist.
What does the applicant say?
According to the Delta Optimist, the applicant submitted a letter through Hearth Architectural Inc. arguing that a modified proposal gives a better balance of private outdoor space, landscaping, site permeability, privacy, parking and traffic safety than a one-driveway design. The letter also says that access from a proposed traffic-calmed 83 Avenue, combined with moving one building 1.5 metres eastward, would improve intersection visibility.
Why did the outgoing council pass this to the new council?
At its final meeting on 26 October 2026, Delta's outgoing council agreed to defer both applications to the incoming council, saying it was appropriate for the new elected members to consider the proposals. The Delta Optimist reported this decision.
Does the sidewalk rule apply to these sites?
No. Because the applications were submitted in 2022, they are not subject to a sidewalk requirement along 83 Avenue that Delta adopted in a bylaw in 2024. The Delta Optimist reported this detail from the City staff report.
When does the new council take office?
Delta's new Council holds its inaugural meeting on 2 November 2026. Mayor Melissa Granum and the newly elected councillors will sit for the first time today. Planning applications deferred by the outgoing council, including this one, will come before them in the coming weeks.
Is housing a priority for the new mayor?
Mayor Melissa Granum promised during her campaign to open a public review of Delta's Official Community Plan as one of her first priorities, with sessions in Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta. That plan sets the rules for housing and development across the city. Her tracker page at /bc/delta-2026/candidates/melissa-granum shows the status of that promise.
What can residents do?
Residents near 11220 and 11230 83 Avenue can watch the City of Delta's council agenda pages for when these applications come before the new council. Council meetings are open to the public and include time for residents to speak to planning matters on the agenda.
Sources
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