Shoppers and commuters in Coquitlam will soon be able to get a drink or a bite to eat from a street vendor.
At Monday's meeting, city council gave three readings to a bylaw that will allow mobile, cart and vehicle vending on city streets and on private property.
Mobile vendors, such as ice cream truck and moving coffee van operators, will be charged $145 for their licence while cart vendors (non-motorized vehicles that are stationary) such as Mr. Tube Steak and flower cart owners will have to pay a $95 fee; those classed as vehicle vendors (taco trucks, etc.) who are parked while serving customers will be billed $110 a year to do business.
City staff said the bylaw, if adopted by city council, will be in effect this summer for mobile vendors in residential areas; however, cart and vehicle sellers will have to wait until staff organize a policy around specific locations and reservations on city land.
Last month, Port Moody city council voted to allow street vendors during its summer concerts at Rocky Point Park. The city is now inviting eateries and food cart vendors to apply for a spot.
Other council news:
Coquitlam city hall this week applied for gas tax cash to pay for part of its new district energy system in City Centre.
The innovative project with Fortis BC would centralize space heating, domestic hot water and cooling for civic buildings and other residential developments in and around the Four Corners campus (Pinetree and Guildford ways), where the Evergreen Line will end.
According to a city staff report, the federal gas tax grant would cover the capital costs for the first phase of the project - a potential centralized ground source heat pump as well as a waste heat recovery station and distribution piping - costing a total of $2.2 million.
Besides City Centre, city staff are also eyeing five more Coquitlam neighbourhoods for private utilities: two sections of Burquitlam, where the Evergreen Line will run along North and Clarke roads; Austin Heights; Maillardville; and Partington Creek on Burke Mountain. As well, Beedie Living is expected to develop district energy for future residents and businesses at its new Fraser Mills waterfront village.
Public hearings will be held this month on plans for two key properties on Burke Mountain - one of which is owned by the city of Coquitlam.
At Monday's meeting, city council gave first reading to bylaws to allow 26 one-family residential lots, a townhouse parcel and the future northeast Coquitlam firehall, all on 10 acres of city land at David and Galloway avenues.
If approved, the developments, located within the Smiling Creek Neighbourhood Plan, would be built on a 12% to 20% slope, near Burke Mountain creek. The Northeast Coquitlam Ratepayers' Association is supporting the city's plans.
Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam's general manager of planning, said the city wants to sell off the designated-residential land, once serviced.
Meanwhile, council also gave first reading on Monday to bylaws that would permit Wesbild to develop 165 single-family lots, a future townhouse site and a park in the 3500-block of Princeton Avenue, also in the Smiling Creek neighbourhood.
The 42-acre subdivision is located on a 15% slope, directly north of where the city intends to build its firehall.
The public hearings for the official community plan changes and rezonings are expected to be held June 25.
