One of Abbotsford’s most iconic landmarks was demolished on Wednesday (Nov. 29) to make way for a large residential development.
The historic red barn on the former Cooper farm in the area of McMillan and McKee roads had been on the property for decades. But city council voted unanimously in July 2022 in favour of a plan to develop the 63-acre property into a mix of parks and housing.
The project by Cooper Meadows Developments Ltd., whose parent company is Polygon Homes, calls for the property to be developed into more than 400 units of housing – six single-family homes, 76 single-family homes with secondary suites, 26 row homes, 90 duplex home, 190 three- and four-bedroom townhomes and an amenity building.
A future 40-unit townhome site is also planned at the south end of the property where the red barn was located.
As part of the development, the plan calls for 17.7 acres of land to be dedicated to the city as parklands, which would include an improved Discovery Trail alignment, two dog parks and walking trails.
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Another 1.4 acres are to be set aside as a conservation area attached to the townhome site, and the project will preserve existing trees and includes hundreds of new trees planted in yards, park areas and on boulevards.
The farm was previously owned and operated by Kathleen Cooper, who died Sept. 13, 2020 at the age of 91.
The former teacher and principal lived her entire life on the family dairy farm and gave it her full attention upon her retirement in 1993.
A previous letter to council stated that Cooper Meadows Developments was working with Cooper’s estate to “interpret her wishes for the property and to ensure the areas to be preserved and developed align to these wishes.”
Council indicated that Cooper wanted the property to be developed for housing, but a portion of the land to be saved as green space.
RELATED: Cooper Farm development plan approved unanimously by Abbotsford council