Coquitlam residents will get their chance to weigh-in at a public hearing next month on an 11-storey hotel and convention centre proposed at the Boulevard Casino.
The city's land use committee voted unanimously to move the application forward; if approved, the facility would add 181 hotel rooms, a modified restaurant and expanded banquet facilities to the site, although the gaming floor would remain the same size.
Most councillors appeared supportive of the initiative, particularly with the addition of new hotel space, which several members said is badly needed in Coquitlam.
"We are so central to the region that tourism is something we ought to be looking at," said Mayor Richard Stewart. "The community needs more hotel space, particularly as we explore the kinds of tourism opportunities we have."
Coun. Barrie Lynch concurred, adding a new hotel would mean bigger acts for the Red Robinson Show Theatre, with many bands requiring accommodations on site in order to be booked for the venue.
Last month, Great Canadian Gaming Corp., owner of the Boulevard Casino, revealed its plans at an open house, which was attended by 53 people; more than 36 comment sheets were turned in to the applicant.
A city staff report noted that of the comment sheets, seven were in favour of the development and 29 were opposed. But the report also noted that most (75%) of the negative responses came from employees at the Best Western hotel on North Road who had concerns about the local hotel market.
Coun. Linda Reimer said it is not the city's place to decide what the marketplace requires for hotel rooms and accommodations. A 2008 market analysis study put together by the applicant also found that there were growth demands for more hotel space in the municipality.
"The market will determine whether or not this building is needed," said Coun. Linda Reimer. "I am not sure the government... should be saying things with respect to the marketplace and what is needed and what is not."
But while the application received unanimous support to move forward, there were still some details council wanted worked out before the public hearing.
Great Canadian's proposal stated the expansion of the facility would create 300 full- and part-time jobs but Coun. Neal Nicholson said he would like to see a breakdown of the exact employment figures.
"A whole lot of part-time jobs are not what I am looking for in this community," he said. "I am interested in knowing the number of each."
Great Canadian's plans are a scaled-down version of a three-year-old proposal that would have seen a 21-storey highrise hotel, a new restaurant, banquet hall, cabaret and conference facilities. That application received third reading in October 2008, in the midst of the economic downturn, and developers did not proceed with their plans.
With the economy beginning to rebound and the construction of the Port Mann/Highway 1 project, which is expected to ease access to the area, the corporation believes that market conditions are right for the revised proposal.
According to the city's 2010 annual report, Great Canadian Gaming Corp. was the third largest taxpayer in Coquitlam, contributing $1.5 million to city coffers.
As well as municipal taxes, under provincial legislation, the company hands over 10% of its net profits to cities that host its casinos. Since the Boulevard Casino opened, Coquitlam has collected more than $75 million through the Ministry of Solicitor General; the city puts 12.5% of that money into a fund for local non-profit groups, with the remainder spent on major capital works.
