The proximity of a proposed Burke Mountain housing project to a new daycare and elementary school sealed the deal for Coquitlam this week.
On Monday (March 28), city council unanimously approved a development permit for McVicar Court LP (Townline) to build 159 townhouses in 23 buildings at 3550 McVicar Ct. (Coun. Dennis Marsden was not at the March 28 meeting).
Located north of David Avenue in the Partington Creek neighbourhood, the development is set to generate about $3.2 million in development cost charges to pay for surrounding infrastructure.
However, it will also see 153 trees chopped to make way for the buildings, underground parking and site re-grading as the 5.13-acre lot slopes 13 metres.
In his report to council, Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam’s director of development services, said another seven trees on city lands that are deemed hazardous will also be axed, while a total of 349 trees will be planted on site once the project is up.
Coun. Chris Wilson praised the developer for providing a mix of units — 55 two-bedroom and 104 three-bedroom — and noted the property is close to Coast Salish Elementary, which is now under construction, as well as a large child care centre.
“I think this is an amazing development,” Wilson said.
Coun. Craig Hodge also gave kudos to the developer for providing parking for 319 vehicles of which half will have 240V chargers for electric cars — exceeding the city’s zoning bylaw requirements.
Still, Hodge suggested the city will have to update its policy for EV chargers in new residential complexes, as 50 per cent electrification in parkades will “fall short” in a decade.
Jaime Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, said city staff are now studying e-Mobility and future EV charging needs “is one of the items to be reviewed.”
In other Coquitlam development news:
TANDEM PARKING
A plan to build a six-plex off Coquitlam’s Blue Mountain Street will go out for public comment this month despite concerns about its tandem parking.
Monday, council voted 7–1 in favour of moving the proposal for 753 Edgar Ave. to public hearing, with Coun. Brent Asmundson opposed (Coun. Marsden was not present).
Asmundson told council he doesn’t see tandem parking “working at all” on the property and suggested the layout by Architype Design Ltd. would impact the neighbourhood.
His comments were echoed, in general, by councillors Wilson and Steve Kim.
“It would be one of the first developments of its sort in the area,” Kim added. “I’m struggling with how this is going to fit into the area. Is six [units] too much?”
But Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam director of development services, confirmed the tandem parking was technically feasible, while Jaime Boan, general manager of engineering and public works, said future tenants could also park on the street.
According to city documents, the proposed rezoning is for a 14,058 sq. ft. property — on the northeastern side of Edgar Avenue and Allison Street — that currently has a single-family home; a six-storey apartment block across the street, at 708 Edgar Ave., is now under construction.
If approved following the public hearing, the city would stand to gain $156,000 in development cost charges and $30,200 in voluntary community amenity contributions.
The next public hearing date is April 25.
BURKE SUBDIVISION
A bid to tear down a single-family home on Burke Mountain to subdivide a lot got the OK from Coquitlam city council this week.
On Monday, council gave second and third readings to rezone and change the Official Community Plan at 1386 Glenbrook St., located in the Upper Hyde Creek neighbourhood.
The approvals came following a public hearing that saw no speakers; city council also did not comment on the application before unanimously green-lighting the proposal (Coun. Marsden was not present).
According to city documents, the owner, Hui-Fen Liang, plans to split the 0.67-acre property into four new lots: three RS-8 zoned parcels fronting Princeton Avenue and one RS-11 zoned lot facing Glenbrook Street to build four detached homes.
Fourth and final bylaw considerations are expected at a later date.
