A plan to rezone two properties across from Kal Tire on Lougheed Highway for a church will move forward to Coquitlam city council for consideration.
This morning, May 6, council in committee unanimously advanced the bid by the Disciple Methodist Church to change the land use at 1963 Lougheed Hwy. and 1880 Coleman Ave., where an auction house was a previous tenant.
Specifically, church officials want to renovate the existing building at 1963 Lougheed Hwy. for a chapel, choir room and banquet hall; dedicate 33 per cent of the building as a place of worship; and demolish part of the existing house at 1880 Coleman Ave. to create a new drive aisle and 16 off-street parking stalls for the parishioners.
The committee’s OK went against city planners’ recommendation to reject the application as they said the proposal, among other things:
- goes against policy direction on preserving and enhancing industrial and employment-generating lands
- creates a precedent by converting designated industrial space for places of worship
- erodes the city’s commercial tax base as places of worship qualify for statutory property tax exemptions
- requires city staff to monitor the split uses within the building to ensure the assembly use doesn’t exceed 33 per cent of the building (at 1963 Lougheed Hwy.) as per Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy
Coquitlam planner Edison Ting said the plan, if approved, would also require a variance to cut the number of stalls required from 68 to 61 spots.
He suggested there are policies now in place to accommodate churches in other locations such as residential zones.
Still, given the housing crisis and the provincial government’s mandate to build more homes, Mayor Richard Stewart said a residential site would likely be too costly for a congregation, and not appropriate.
Meanwhile, Coun. Brent Asmundson, who has been working with the Disciple Methodist Church for years to find a space, pointed out the “contradictory policies” to push for more jobs in Coquitlam. For example, further west on Lougheed, two big box stores were recently converted to storage centres, he said.
He also took aim at city staff for promoting churches in residential neighbourhoods given the soaring land costs.
Coun. Matt Djonlic said the church does good community outreach. “They serve a purpose in our community,” he said.
