The Editor:
Re: Massive redevelopment of Port Moody neighbourhood goes to public hearing (March 29, 2022)
As someone who has followed the Coronation Park redevelopment saga closely, I am very concerned about what council could approve on April 5.
On this day, a proposal to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) to develop 2,665 units in Coronation Park - greater than 50% more dense than what council allowed in the OCP in 2017 - is going to public hearing. And there won’t be a single unit of affordable housing committed as part of this plan.
That's right. Not one.
A development of this size should absolutely include affordable units. Period. This OCP amendment should have never progressed to this stage without a minimum commitment of 15% affordable units, as per Port Moody policy.
We are talking three times the number of condos in Newport Village. How is it possible a development with this level of density is not able to meet the needs of our community for basic amenities (such as parkland and job space) and provide affordable housing?
The developer has convinced this council that it's not feasible. That it was an “either or” situation. I simply do not believe this is true. We all know that developers are motivated to make as much money as possible. That's fine. But it is a council's job to ensure the needs of the community are met.
Some on council and those who support them like to claim that Port Moody is not pulling our weight with building new homes. This simply isn't true. Between Coronation Park and the recently approved Woodland Park alone, we are looking at approximately 8,500 new residents to Port Moody. This is a 25% increase in our population. And with this growth, we only seem to manage to gain 325 "affordable" housing units (at Woodland Park).
Of course "affordable units" and "housing affordability" are not the same thing. I am not sure how building condos that could easily average $1 million each at Coronation Park is helping with general affordability? These units will not make housing more affordable in this community.
We need to focus on the development of housing types that actually address our housing needs per our housing needs report: affordable and accessible housing for families, seniors, new immigrants, and people trying to make it on one income. Developments that actually add a net benefit to quality of life not net costs.
We need to start to take a whole community approach to planning and decision-making. We need to not only consider housing but the necessary roadways, public amenities, jobs, parks, trails and greenspaces to support this housing. People move to Port Moody to enjoy the quality of life it has to offer.
The reality is if we want to preserve quality of life in Port Moody growth needs to be carefully managed. Growth has impacts. That is why we need to make sure we get the few large-scale developments Port Moody can reasonably support right. Wesgroup's current proposal is not the right choice for Port Moody. We should demand so much better.
- Haven Lurbiecki, Port Moody
