Port Coquitlam council unanimously approved a rezoning application for a 10-unit townhouse project this week despite concerns about tandem parking and roof-top patios.
The project, located at 1741 and 1747 Salisbury Ave., will have one more unit than the nine allowed under the current zoning bylaw, with the developer paying $58,500 for the extra land value.
And the project, on the north side of Salisbury Avenue near Wellington Street, will also provide housing for 10 families in three-bedroom, three-storey units between 1,660 and 1,927 sq. ft. in size.
Some councillors had previously raised concerns about the number of tandem garages in the development, suggesting that sticking to a lower density would allow for more side-by-side garages.
Coun. Dean Washington raised the issue once more, noting the $58,500 the developer is required to pay for the extra unit is "great."
However, he questioned whether it's a good idea to allow eight of the 14 parking spaces to be tandem, where residents park back to front.
People will just end up parking on the street, Washington said.
"What's the payoff for lack of parking in a residential neighbourhood where we hear tonnes of complaints all the time."
Create parking wars?
Salisbury resident Gordon Sherwood, who was unable to make the public hearing for the rezoning, wrote to council about his concerns about both tandem garages and rooftop patios.
"You are going to create parking wars," Sherwood warned, and Coun. Steve Darling agreed.
"I think it ends up with people using one car only and the other car has to go some place else," said Darling.
"Where tandem parking works is....where you can actually park outside the garage, and that makes a big difference."
However, Coun. Darrell Penner noted that tandem parking may be necessary to build the housing complex in full.
"If we limit even further tandem parking or eliminate it, there is no doubt we would be eliminating housing."
Coun. Paige Petriw said she spoke to her neighbour who has tandem parking, and was told that having a home was more important than the "inconvenience" of tandem parking.
Councillors agreed that the city needs to dive deeper into the potential issues of tandem parking. Staff are set to look at previous developments where they have been approved to see if they create parking problems.
Rooftop patios a 'nice feature'
Meanwhile, city councillors appeared less concerned about the roof top patios, which will have planters to provide privacy.
Coun. Petriw said she thought roof top patios are a "nice feature" although they might not be used that much in the summer when it gets hot.
Coun. Darling said they were useful for homeowners as a place to relax.
"People are likely to be less rowdy on a rooftop patio then they would be anywhere else," said Darling, jokingly adding, "When I get my jiggy on, roof top patios are perfect. That's the way you want to do it."
The rezoning from RS1 to RS4 was unanimously approved for third reading.
No one attended the public hearing to speak about the project.
However, in his submission, Sherwood raised numerous issues, including tandem parking, privacy concerns from roof-top patios, safety concerns and more.
