A 38-storey tower proposed for one of Coquitlam’s busiest intersections will go out for comment next week.
On Monday (July 26), city council is scheduled to hear from the public about plans to construct the high-rise at the northwest corner of Como Lake Avenue and Clarke Road.
The development is being planned by Marcon, the same company that built the 49-storey tower across the street, called 567 Clarke + Como.
Marcon is also proposing to build Coquitlam Central, a new 4,000-home and retail community east of the Coquitlam Central transit hub.
If approved by council following Monday’s public hearing, the Marcon Elmwood project — located at 585 Como Lake Ave., 603 and 609 Clarke Rd., and 606 and 612 Elmwood St. — would have 333 condo units plus four levels for commercial.
Located in the Oakdale neighbourhood and 740 feet from the Burquitlam SkyTrain station, on land currently owned by the city, Kulwinder Kaur Sanghera and Marcon, the proposed development would see the two existing houses torn down for:
- studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den suites
- 37 three-bedroom condos, of which 23 suites would have a lock-off unit
- 63 adaptable market condos
As well, Marcon is planning a total of 18,000 sq. ft. in common amenity space plus a rain garden.
Coun. Steve Kim said he’d like to see Marcon include “something unique” at the corner of Como Lake/Clarke given its gateway location.
If approved, the city would gain $4.3 million in development cost charges, $6.8 million density bonus fees and $260,000 in voluntary community amenity contributions. As well, the municipality would profit from the sale of the proposed lane closure and surplus property.
Raul Allueva, Coquitlam’s deputy city manager, said the BC Hydro transmission lines on the properties will stay.
RENTAL SWAP
Last week, council unanimously gave first reading to the OCP and zoning changes for Marcon Elmwood as well as first zoning reading for a connecting project — about three blocks away, behind the YMCA that’s now under construction — called Marcon Dogwood, which will also go to public hearing on July 26.
For that proposal — located at 631 and 633 Smith Ave. and 708, 712 and 716 Dogwood St. — Marcon plans a “density transfer” from Marcon Elmwood to the new six-storey building that will have 126 rental units:
- four studio suites
- 86 one-bedroom units
- 32 two-bedroom units
- four three-bedroom units
Of the rentals, 25 suites would be adaptable while 37 units are designated as below-market and would be run by a non-profit housing provider, wrote Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam’s director of development services.
If the plan proceeds, Marcon Dogwood would generate about $1.3 million in development cost charges plus $235,000 in community amenity contributions for the city.
Transferring densities to another legal parcel isn’t new for Coquitlam, Merrill said, citing previous examples for the YMCA as well as Marcon’s 567 Clarke + Como.
The public hearings for Marcon Elmwood and Marcon Dogwood start at 7 p.m. on Monday. To register and have your say, visit coquitlam.ca/publichearing.
