Port Moody council will convene in a special session tomorrow afternoon, Oct. 25, to discuss first and second reading of amendments to zoning and official community plan bylaws required for a proposal by Vancouver-based PCI Developments to construct two 39-storey rental towers next to the Moody Centre SkyTrain station.
The readings were passed in council’s last meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
But a statement released by Mayor Meghan Lahti late Thursday, Oct. 24, said a procedural question about the way the item was dealt with has necessitated Friday’s extraordinary session “out of an abundance of caution.”
"I take the question that has been raised seriously and believe that holding this special meeting will allow us to address it transparently and efficiently," Lahti said.
"Our goal is to support applicants with the development application process and ensure it is a fair process for all parties involved.”
During Tuesday’s discussion about PCI’s application that comprises 865 rental apartments, Coun. Haven Lurbiecki expressed frustration about the short amount of time left before the meeting was scheduled to adjourn at 10 p.m.
She said the 14 minutes remaining in the meeting wouldn’t be enough for council to provide fulsome feedback “on the most massive development project we’ve seen in our history."
Lurbiecki indicated she had several amendments prepared but voted against extending the meeting beyond 10 p.m. She said given the already late hour, a special meeting would be more appropriate.
But her attempt to defer the item was rebuffed by the rest of council, which subsequently voted to pass first and second reading of the bylaw amendments.
“This is critical to our community,” Lurbiecki said of the proceedings. “I just cannot believe this.”
PCI’s proposal also includes a 41,398 sq. ft. grocery store and other commercial spaces in the project’s two-storey podium, a 25,000 sq. ft. public plaza at the entrance to the SkyTrain station, and a new pedestrian bridge over the neighbouring railroad tracks to Murray Street, across from Rocky Point Park.
As well, the developer plans to realign and daylight Dallas/Slaughterhouse Creek that bisects the site, turning over the rehabilitated urban greenway to the city as a park.
Friday’s special meeting at 4:30 p.m. follows a morning session of council’s finance committee which will continue its discussion from last week of the city’s draft financial plan as well as hear budget presentations from the police and library boards.
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