Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti says expanding Rocky Point Park is a "priority" for the city.
But it likely won’t happen by acquiring the old Flavelle sawmill site just to the west.
Lahti was directing her comments to the gallery at Inlet Theatre Tuesday, Nov. 12, where about 35 people who had earlier rallied in support of just such a strategy to increase the size of Port Moody’s iconic waterfront park were sitting amidst signs and placards.
Lahti said while private ownership of the Flavelle property, along with other factors such as remediating the old industrial site where a sawmill had operated for more than 100 years, would make its cost prohibitive, council is exploring other opportunities and would hold any plan to redevelop it to a high standard for including public park space.
“We all want to expand that park and use as many opportunities as we can to do so,” Lahti said.
Earlier, during public input, several speakers implored councillors to prioritize expansion of the 9.5-acre park, citing the need for more green space as Port Moody’s population grows in the coming years, especially in the nearby downtown area.
“We want a park that is usable by everyone by the water,” said one.
“This is our jewel in the crown,” said another. “There are solutions.”
They had mobilized prior to council’s consideration of a new master plan for improvements to Rocky Point Park that will cost about $43 million over the next 10 years.
It passed unanimously.
Staff will now continue refining the plan’s four phases, develop a funding strategy and begin early planning for archaeological investigations that could impact final design work.
The master plan includes:
- expanding and improving the spray and skate park areas
- constructing a new waterfront plaza and boardwalk west of the pier as well as bolstering environmental protections for the shoreline
- opening up the central green to create more expansive views to the water, improve drainage and construct new, wider walkways
- enhancements to the waterfront west of the pier
Coun. Amy Lubik said though the plan’s $43-million price tag is high, “this is an investment for our community.”
She added alternate sources of funding will likely dampen the project’s impact on local taxpayers.
Coun. Callan Morrison said while expanding Port Moody’s park space is an admirable goal, it can’t come at the expense of taking proper care of the parks the city already has.
“It’s about maintaining and improving what we currently have.”
Coun. Diana Dilworth said some of the planned improvements to Rocky Point Park will make more of it usable, in effect expanding it.
And, according to a report by Ding Yu, the city’s parks planning project manager, possible plans for the park beyond the 10-year master plan, such as closing the boat ramp and adjacent parking area, as well as removing the outdoor pool when it’s reached the end of its serviceable life, could create even more space.
But Coun. Haven Lurbiecki said that still won’t be enough to meet Port Moody’s imminent need.
“Most of what I see in this plan is a nice-to-have while expansion is a must-have.”
Lurbiecki said relying on Flavelle to come through with a development proposal for its property that includes sufficient park space is “not a way to get park expansion.”
She added council could help get the ball rolling on acquiring the old sawmill site by reverting it to its former status as industrial land in the city’s current official community plan (OCP), which is due for updating.
“The city decides the future of private land in the city,” she said.
Following its closure of the sawmill in 2017, Flavelle applied for an amendment to the property’s OCP designation so it could begin formulating plans for its redevelopment into a high-density, mixed-use neighbourhood with homes for up to 7,000 people as well as commercial, office and light-industrial spaces that would employ another 1,100.
Council approved the amendment in 2018. Since then, though, the company has yet to submit a formal application to the city to go through with its redevelopment plan.
Still, cautioned Paul Rockwood, Port Moody’s general manager of finance and technology, the city has to tread carefully and any effort that would affect the property’s value could result in having to pay compensation to the owner.
He suggested the best strategy would be to continue working with Flavelle.
Plan for Old Orchard Park also gets the green light
Earlier, council also approved a new master plan for Old Orchard Park on Port Moody’s north shore.
It includes construction of a new playground, picnic shelter and washroom facility, as well as a universally accessible path from the park’s upper slope down to a new lounge area with showers by the beach.
Old Orchard’s current meadow area will also be enlarged and new habitat islands will be built in the water to help protect the shoreline.
The project is budgeted to cost more than $3.3 million without the habitat islands, which won’t be built until later.
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