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Highrise limits lifted by Coquitlam council

A 25-storey max. is set for Austin Heights towers
Coquitlam
A moratorium limiting highrise development in the Austin Heights neighbourhood is expected to be lifted following a public hearing and council vote Monday evening.

A moratorium limiting highrise development in the Austin Heights neighbourhood is expected to be lifted following a public hearing and council vote Monday evening. 

But the city is placing some limits on construction of towers in the area.

Highrises will only be permitted in the neighbourhood centre, which is the commercial area along Austin Avenue and a section of Ridgeway Avenue between Blue Mountain and Gatensbury streets. Development will be limited to a 25-storey maximum, with the spaces between buildings increased to 35 m from the 25 m minimums seen in other parts of the city.

Staff said the plan will also maintain the four-storey limit on the Rona property on Austin and states: “The revitalization is not anticipated to supplant the lower-cost rental housing nearby,” according to a press release.  

Several councillors said adding density in the neighbourhood gives the city more flexibility in leveraging things like affordable housing from developers.

“Staff says, ‘You can build that but what are you going to do for us?’” Coun. Mae Reid said during Monday’s meeting. “’What kind of housing are you going to give us?’”

The changes received mixed reviews from residents at Monday’s public hearing.

Rob Bottos told council he hopes new developments will include rental and subsidized housing rather than just market condos that would be unaffordable to most in the neighbourhood. 

“I am concerned how this is going to affect the people in my neighbourhood,” he said, adding that he supports low-income housing but, “if not, I’m not in favour of this at all.”

Phil Buchan echoed some of Bottos’ comments, saying, “If there is affordable housing in these buildings, I will support it.”

Randy Webster, a director with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, endorsed the lifting of the moratorium, saying more residents in the area would help revitalize Austin Heights, which has not seen much redevelopment over the last few years. Increased density would mean more customers for local businesses while bringing in more housing choice for the area, he added. 

Chris Bacon, a lawyer with an office in the neighbourhood, said having more people in the area could also mean improved amenities, such as increased public transit service.

In a press release on Thursday, Coquitlam city staff said the changes will help revitalize the area into a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood. The city is also expected to implement a commercial tenant relocation policy for businesses that may lose rental spaces due to redevelopment. 

The highrise moratorium was imposed six years ago following the approval of a tower at Austin and Blue Mountain. Despite years of consultation on the Austin Heights Neighbourhood Plan, which allowed towers, some residents were furious when Beedie proposed a 24-storey building. The project was eventually scaled back to 19 storeys and council approved a highrise halt while further consultation could take place.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

@gmckennaTC