How do you add more housing to a city without wrecking established neighbourhoods?
That's the question Port Coquitlam is asking with its Let’s Talk Housing Options survey, aimed at collecting feedback on housing options to allow more people to move to the city.
Through Sept. 19, a guided survey with detailed information will be available at www.portcoquitlam.ca/housing as well as community events, including at this Friday's bike race, where the the Cityinfo tent will be part of the PoCo Grand Prix Biz Expo.
“We’ve been hearing more and more that our residents, and people who want to move to Port Coquitlam, are looking for more housing options,” Mayor Greg Moore said in a press release. “The ideas we are putting forward have worked well in other areas, and we’re looking forward to hearing what our community has to say about them.”
Housing options being considered include:
• coach houses — allowing small accessory dwellings, or laneway housing, on residential lots;
• smaller lots — expanding opportunities for narrower lots;
• duplexes — expanding where buildings for two families may be built and ensuring they fit the neighbourhood.
“These proposed changes would provide more options for home buyers, renters, multi-generational households and people with changing housing needs,” said Coun. Brad West, chair of the city’s Smart Growth Committee. “This is one way that we as a city can help ensure our residents can stay in this community.”
Overall, the changes are intended to:
• provide more housing options for residents to accommodate changing needs;
• create more housing with ground-level access;
• ensure new housing fits the neighbourhood character;
• and make efficient use of infrastructure and accommodate growth in existing neighbourhoods.
As part of the review, the city has looked to address potential impacts on parking, privacy, trees, infrastructure, and services; including continuing to allow secondary suites in single-family homes, but requiring a parking space for them.
The report on public input will go to the Smart Growth Committee this fall.
Those who complete the online survey by Sept. 19 can enter to win an iPad Mini.
