Burquitlam residents can have their say next week on a future mega-development that will also save three heritage homes in Coquitlam.
The proposal by Allaire Headwater (Rochester) Residence calls for the consolidation of 10 lots for 181 new homes — spread over two apartment blocks, two townhouse buildings and three houses with historical value to the city.
If approved following the Jan. 25 public hearing, the three heritage houses to be preserved and relocated to the site’s northeast corner are:
• 572 Rochester Ave.: Built in 1940, the Thomas and Edith Clayton Residence will be updated to include three bedrooms.
• 604 Rochester Ave.: The James and Margaret Clayton Residence went up in 1928; the renovation will maintain the four bedrooms and have a three-bedroom secondary suite. The home is listed as a Class B in the city’s Maillardville Heritage Inventory.
• 390 Guilby St.: The Gueho Residence was constructed in 1938; its restoration would see the entry porch removed (as it was not part of the original structure) and reduce the number of bedrooms in the main house from four to three; the two-bedroom secondary suite will stay.
The application for the entire block facing Rochester Avenue — including addresses 373 and 375 Clayton St.; 572, 602, 604, 606, 608 and 612 Rochester Ave.; and 390 and 394 Guilby St. — has been on the city books for two years, said Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam’s general manager of planning and development.
NEIGHBOURHOOD OPPOSITION
Last September, the proposal went before city council for first reading; however, it was referred to city staff over neighbours’ concerns for size and scale.
As a result, Allaire lost a storey in each of its two apartment complexes — cutting out 16 units — and changed the overall floor area ratio (FAR) from 1.82 to 1.70.
The development will also include 14 adaptable suites while a part of Guilby Street will be rebuilt, said Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam’s director of development services.
In addition, he said, the development will generate a significant amount of cash for the city if built:
• $2.2 million in development cost charges (DCC)
• $410,000 in voluntary Community Amenity Contributions (CAC)
• $200,00 to expand Guilby Park
• $100,000 for the city’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund
• $25,000 for local greenway improvements
As for the proposed multi-family buildings, they will have a workshop/hobby room, gym, a repair station, guest suite and wash stations for vehicles, dogs and bikes, according to a city report.
City council unanimously gave first reading to the application at its Jan. 11 meeting, moving the bid to public hearing on Jan. 25.
Mayor Richard Stewart said that city staff and council have already received correspondence from neighbours about the updated proposal; their comments will be included in the public hearing information for council to consider, he said.
• The public hearing takes place on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at Coquitlam city hall. To watch or present at the meeting via Zoom, go to coquitlam.ca/publichearings.
