Major growth on Coquitlam's Burke Mountain is prompting the city to set up a satellite works yard in the northeast neighbourhood.
The city is looking at four potential sites for the facility: around Eagle Mountain Road; Pipeline Road (north of gravel pits); near Harper Road; and the Gilley's Trail area.
According to a report that went to council on Monday, Burke Mountain will make up 17.5% of the public works projects over the coming years. A new satellite works yard would reduce travel time from the Austin/Mariner service centre and make better use of materials storage, the report states.
Bill Susak, Coquitlam's general manager of engineering and operations, told council the city would have to buy about five acres of private property for the satellite operations as its biggest land parcel is in the Partington Creek Village core and "we want to be away from residential development," Susak said.
The city is planning a master community on Burke Mountain for up to 20,000 more residents over the next 20 years.
Other Coquitlam council news:
45 HOMES
A prolific homebuilder in Coquitlam is planning to develop a subdivision on Burke Mountain land that's designated as environmentally sensitive.
On Monday, city council granted first reading to change the official community plan and rezone a 9.77-acre parcel on Harper Road, which is located in the Smiling Creek neighbourhood.
Under Morningstar Homes' proposal, which is scheduled to go to public hearing, the subdivision would have 45 single-family lots - three more than allowed under the neighbourhood master plan, due to a reconfiguration of a small, unnamed creek and a roadside ditch. According to a city staff report, both are considered "permanent, non-fishbearing protected watercourses."
A public hearing on the application is set for March 26.
CREEK WORK
Another study on a Coquitlam watershed will get flowing this year.
On Monday, council allocated $150,000 from the city's sewer and drainage utility surplus reserve for management planning on Austin and Rochester creeks, around the North Road precinct.
The work is being tied to the upcoming Evergreen Line, which when built in 2016, will run from Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby to Coquitlam Town Centre.
The integrated watershed management plan (IWMP) would set up onsite rainwater criteria and ensure adequate drainage is in place for new development as well as identify environmentally sensitive sections in the general region between Foster Avenue and Lougheed Highway.
Recently, the city finished IWMPs for Scott and Partington creeks.
Also on Monday, city council approved $150,000 for the design of sediment traps on Scott and Hoy creeks.
The mechanisms will capture and remove gravel, thus preventing it from moving downstream and having to be dredged out - meaning less disruption to fish and fish habitat.
Dana Soong, Coquitlam's manager of utility programs, said the city will be reimbursed for two thirds of the project costs under the Building Canada Fund, a grant from the provincial and federal governments.
