Turning Brew Street into a one-way street or banning vehicle traffic from it altogether are some of the options that could address concerns about pedestrian safety in Suter Brook Village.
Port Moody staff will begin working with the development’s owner, Onni, to develop solutions that will then be brought to the city’s transportation committee for further consideration.
A report that was presented to Port Moody council at its meeting last week said several areas of concern in the mixed-used development at the southwest corner of Ioco Road and Murray Street were identified during a recent public consultation with residents and businesses, as well as a walking tour that included city staff, members of council and seven residents. Those include pedestrian and traffic safety at intersections, speeding, parking and a lack of loading zones that often results in vehicles double-parking.
The consultation process was sparked by residents of the development expressing their frustrations during a public hearing last March into a proposal by Onni Group to construct an additional 26-storey tower, as well as a six-storey building, on its last remaining parcel of land in the project.
A survey of was completed by 76 residents and business owners. Some of their suggestions to improve safety included better markings and signage at crosswalks, angled parking, the addition of speed bumps, better lighting and the construction of more loading bays.
The report, authored by Port Moody’s general manager of planning and development, André Boel, suggested, however, any changes to the road network in Suter Brook Village would require coordination and even shared funding with Onni, as some of the roads, like Brew Street, are privately owned by the developer and strata councils.
Boel said the city could also consider implementing pay parking on nearby city roads like Suter Brook Way, Capilano Road and Morrisey Road, to level the playing field with the possible introduction by Onni of pay parking to its underground parking structures in the development. That would vehicles circling through the streets looking for free curbside spots to avoid paying for parking.
Boel noted the only other area of the city that currently has pay parking is the boat launch Rocky Point Park, although limiting parking on Suter Brook’s streets to 15 or 30 would have a similar effect.
3/8: Clarified that pay parking has not yet been implemented at Suter Brook, and the pay parking at Rocky Point Park is only for the boat launch area.
