A public hearing for a proposal to build Port Moody’s two tallest towers will be held Tuesday, April 1, 7 p.m., at city hall (100 Newport Dr.).
Vancouver-based PCI Developments is seeking to build two 39-storey rental towers on four lots along Spring Street, next to Moody Centre SkyTrain station. But first the company must secure amendments to the city’s zoning and official community plan (OCP) bylaws.
Port Moody council gave second reading to those amendments, to rezone the properties from light industrial to comprehensive development and civic service as well exceed the city’s height limit of 26 storeys in its current OCP, in an extraordinary meeting last Oct. 25. It also agreed the significance of the development warranted written notice of the public hearing be sent to every household in the city.
Normally, such notices are only distributed to addresses within a 140-metre radius of a proposed development.
PCI’s proposal would bring 865 new rental apartments to Port Moody’s downtown; 44 of those would be made available at below-market rates, although council did task staff to try to negotiate for more, as well as boost the mix of larger, family-friendly units.
“We have to work to get more from projects this size,” said Coun. Amy Lubik.
Other amenities include:
- a 41,398 square-foot grocery store and other commercial spaces
- more than 4,000 square feet of artist studio spaces
- a 25,000 square-foot public plaza at the entrance to the SkyTrain station
- a new pedestrian bridge over the railroad track to Murray Street, across from Rocky Point Park
As well, the developer will realign and daylight Dallas/Slaughterhouse Creek that runs through the four-acre site. Its protected riparian area will then be turned over to the city as a park.
But at least one Port Moody councillor said the city should fight for even more.
Coun. Haven Lurbiecki said the list of amenities is insufficient for “the most massive development project we’ve seen in our history.
“This is critical to our community.”
However, Mayor Meghan Lahti said PCI’s proposal already meets the city’s requirement for its number of affordable units and exceeds its rental housing policy. She added most other suggestions made by council and various committees for enhancements and amendments have also been accommodated.
The April 1 public hearing was originally scheduled to occur last Nov. 12 but was postponed at the request of the developer.
If PCI’s proposal is approved, its towers will join three more along Spring Street to be constructed by Beedie Living that were approved by Port Moody council in February following a public hearing that lasted more than three hours.
The 32- 34- and 38-storey structures will comprise more than 1,000 new homes atop two-storey podiums with commercial and office space as well as a daycare facility for up to 107 kids. As well, the developer is building a six-storey transitional housing facility for women and children fleeing abusive relationships further west on Spring Street.
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