Plans for the Flavelle Oceanfront Development in Port Moody are moving forward and could be before the city's land use committee later this spring.
At Tuesday's meeting, council approved a motion to formally notify the provincial Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Metro Vancouver, School District 43, Port Metro Vancouver, TransLink and several surrounding cities and First Nations of the official community plan amendment application.
The 34-acre site is classified as general industrial, with a regional special study overlay. Changing that to a mixed-use designation in Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) requires a majority vote by the Metro board, which, in the past, has been reluctant to allow the loss of valuable industrial land.
Blair Chisholm of Brook Pooni Associates, the planning consultants spearheading the project, said they were pleased to hear positive comments about the public engagement process they've undertaken so far. They are now refining the conceptual plans that were presented at an open house in January and are aiming to bring a more detailed proposal to the land use committee by June.
Should Metro Vancouver and Port Moody approve the OCP amendments Flavelle would then be in a position to pursue rezoning and development permit applications, which will require further public consultation and technical analysis, according to a city staff report.
If Metro Vancouver or the city turn down the OCP amendment, the site will remain industrial and could include port-related activities should Flavelle shut down the existing cedar mill.
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