Explosive population growth expected in Coquitlam’s City Centre neighbourhood over the next 30 years has city planning staff looking at ways of managing the influx of new residents.
According to a staff report, 27,000 people are expected to move into the area over the next three decades on top of the 31,000 existing residents.
An update to the neighbourhood’s area plan is expected to get underway this month, covering properties within approximately 800 m of the city’s three new Evergreen Extension stations.
The plan will guide the neighbourhood as it continues its transition from a suburb to a regional town centre, “solidifying City Centre’s identity as the heart of Coquitlam,” said the document.
As part of the process, the city said it will review its strategies for using incentives to draw employment opportunities in the transit-accessible neighbourhood.
The document will also outline new methods of encouraging larger, family-oriented two- and three-bedroom housing units and policies to enhance walking, cycling and transit opportunities.
Staff will also delve into available funding options for a potential fourth Evergreen Extension station at Falcon Drive.
The first phase of the planning process is expected to get underway this month and online consultation will occur early in the New Year.
The city report said staff intend to get a better understanding of the existing context of the site before moving ahead with guiding principles. There will also be a stakeholder “ideas fair” and a community information session before the summer.
The information collected during the consultation process will be incorporated into a draft plan, which will be presented to council, likely in the fall. The entire process should be wrapped up by mid-2019, according to the staff report.
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