A new building with commercial space and a daycare got the go-ahead from 91原创 Township council last month, but some councillors also mulled adding housing to the site.

The site is located in the 22400 block of 48th Avenue, near the intersection with Fraser Highway, on a triangular piece of land. Mara + Natha Architecture applied for a development permit to build a 13,154 square foot (1,222 square metres) commercial building, with a daycare on the second floor.

The daycare would be able to accommodate up to 65 children.

None of the councillors objected to the building, and they were pleased to see a daycare being built, but several councillors suggested that the building could be bigger, and might accommodate residential units as well.

Councillor Michael Pratt raised the residential question, and Township staffers noted that the zoning for that site did allow residential units. There are a number of mixed-use buildings and condos nearby in Murrayville.

Mayor Eric Woodward noted that building parking for residential might be a challenge on the site, and Pratt suggested that he would be in favour of allowing for less parking than is usual for a residential development. The site is right on Fraser Highway and residents could access express buses, he said.

In the end, council voted five-to-four against asking the developer to reconsider their design to add residential.

Although this vote failed, it鈥檚 not the first time this council has considered asking developers for more residential density.

Earlier in the term, the council voted to send a residential housing development plan back to the builders, to suggest higher density. That site was in Willoughby near R.E. Mountain Secondary.

Council did approve the project鈥檚 development permit, with only Pratt voting against it.

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