Hazel Drive is next on the list for Coquitlam city planners as they prepare the fifth - and final - neighbourhood blueprint for Burke Mountain.
On Monday, city council unanimously adopted the Partington Creek Neighbourhood Plan, covering the largest and most dense community on Burke (close to Minnekhada Regional Park), where up to 15,000 more residents will live over the next 20 years.
At a public hearing last month, city council heard from a number of residents who supported and opposed the new plan, which has been more than eight years in the making.
Longtime Burke resident Sandra Marsden called for more single-family housing in Partington - where three-quarters of housing be multi-family - while some Victoria Drive property owners complained about their land being designated as a future park.
When built out, the 595-acre commercial and recreational hub for Burke will see up to 5,700 more homes, three elementary schools, a middle school and nine parks.
Servicing and civic facilities costs for Partington are estimated at $159 million, of which $119 million is expected to be paid by development cost charges. The balance of $40 million will be paid by private-sector development, capital funding and borrowing, utility fees, density bonusing, community amenity contributions and senior government grants.
A visioning process for the new Hazel Drive-Harper Road area - located north of the Upper Hyde Creek neighbourhood - is set to start this fall.
Other Coquitlam council news:
BIG DAYCARE
A three-storey daycare planned to take up three large lots on Burke Mountain is drawing concern from some Coquitlam city councillors.
On Monday, council granted first reading to change the official community plan and rezone 3486 Wessex Crt. (off Kingston Street) for a proposed daycare for up to 74 kids aged one to five years old.
Coun. Mae Reid said considering the building size and scope in the residential area, the applicants should do more to consult the neighbours. And she cited a letter the city received from the Northeast Coquitlam Ratepayers' Association voicing the same concern.
Coun. Brent Asmundson said a daycare is greatly needed on Burke Mountain, given the number of young families on Burke.
A public hearing on the bid will be held on July 22.
The same night, Coquitlam residents will also get a chance to speak to council about a proposal to build a four-storey, 31-unit apartment block for 945 and 951 Charland Ave., off Blue Mountain Street.
The site, located south of the Petro-Can gas station in the Austin Heights neighbourhood, is just west of five properties where council recently approved construction of a four-storey, 88-unit development.
PRIORITIES
The replacement of the Bailey bridge to New Westminster, the 2016 BC Seniors' Games bid and the Northeast Sector Area Transit Plan have been added as "high priority" items to Coquitlam's business plan this year.
But Coun. Lou Sekora said he'd like to see a project he championed three years ago - now listed on the agenda as "low importance" - be bumped up. Sekora said the parks dedication framework should be hurried to preserve green spaces. And he said he plans to bring up the topic every month at council until the framework is in place.
Mayor Richard Stewart countered that the parks department has its plate full, especially with recent senior staff turnover.
Other items now included on the city's 2013 business plan are: tourism strategy, 125th city anniversary planning, memorial naming and Evergreen Line public art.
WELCOME
A public artwork created by more than 100 Coquitlam residents will go up at the City Centre library branch in November.
On Monday, city council approved the final design of "The Welcome Project," two large birdhouses to be installed on the column in the library entrance lobby.
The $45,000 piece overseen by artist Blake Williams was structured after a number of community workshops, one-third of which had participants under the age of 12. The city received a $35,000 Embrace BC Arts Engagement Grant for the artwork.
