A request by Port Moody for more time to comment on a massive development proposal in Anmore has drawn a sharp rebuke from the village’s mayor.
John McEwen said the village has already gone above and beyond by extending an invitation to its municipal neighbour to provide input on a proposal by Icona Properties to build 2,200 new homes on a 150-acre property the company owns at the corner of 1st Avenue and Sunnyside Road.
He said similar consideration wasn’t extended to Anmore when Port Moody made the decision in 2020 to remove the David Avenue right-of-way through Bert Flinn Park, eliminating the possibility of building a third road connection to the village.
As well, McEwen said, the city has never asked Anmore about the potential impacts to its traffic from several new developments near the Moody Centre and Inlet Centre SkyTrain stations that could bring more visitors to təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park and the Buntzen Lake recreational area.
“I’ve always said we look forward to broader regional development, but what about hearing from Port Moody about the traffic impacts to Anmore of its development?”
In a letter dated March 26, Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti said city staff hadn’t yet had a chance to review several technical studies examining the proposed development’s impact on traffic, transportation infrastructure, sewer and storm water systems as well as surrounding watersheds and ecosystems so they could provide comment by Anmore's March 26 deadline.
She then highlighted several areas of potential concern the city has about the development proposal, including:
- the need for a new agreement to connect the new development as well as the rest of Anmore to the regional sewer system that currently ends in Port Moody
- clarification on how the new development will receive water and potential impacts on a 2018 agreement that connects Anmore to the city’s water system
- traffic congestion on Ioco and East roads and the possible effects on Port Moody master transportation plan to reduce the dependence on cars to get around
- impact to environmentally sensitive areas, fish habitats, wetlands, wildlife corridors as well as neighbouring steams and forests
In February, Anmore council approved an engagement plan for Icona's proposal. It includes consultation with neighbouring communities, First Nations, TransLink, Metro Vancouver, Fraser Health, BC Ambulance, RCMP, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, as well as village residents.
Planning consultant Tim Savoie, who recently retired as Port Moody’s longtime city manager, said it’s still early days for such consultations and all interested parties will have several opportunities to provide “detailed technical analysis.”
Savoie said the majority of the technical studies have been submitted to village staff and are currently being reviewed before being made publicly available.
He added Port Moody is welcome to attend future open houses about the development proposal as well as provide official responses during a public hearing or during referral to Metro Vancouver should it get that far.
“It’s just one of the first opportunities to provide comment.”
McEwen said Lahti’s letter pretty much made Port Moody’s feelings about Icona’s development proposal be known already.
“I’ve never seen a letter of this detail.”
Anmore Couns. Kim Trowbridge and Polly Krier agreed.
“They seem to be getting overly involved in Anmore’s business,” said Trowbridge.
“We can’t let another municipality drive our decisions,” added Krier. “It’s important for us to stay in our lane and a neighbouring municipality stay in their lane.”
But Coun. Doug Richardson, whose motion to grant Port Moody the 60-day extension didn’t even get a seconder, said it’s important the communities remain “good neighbours,” adding the city will likely feel the greatest impact should the village eventually decide to let Icona’s development proposal proceed.
Anmore council then voted to receive Lahti's letter for information.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
