A proposed development that would dramatically reshape the northeast section of Port Coquitlam's Dominion Triangle cleared a significant hurdle Tuesday night.
Councillors voted to grant third reading to an application, which calls for close to 650 townhouse and apartment units, a large amenity building and a new park for the area.
"What you see before you is truly a sustainable neighbourhood," said Laura Lee Richard, the city's director of development services. "The scale of the neighbourhood is quite large."
The development, which is known as the Dominion Riverfront, would feature high-performance, energy saving buildings that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Community garden plots and a ride share program are also expected to be part of the proposal, she added.
Of the 650 units, 250 would be located in four apartment buildings and 298 townhouses would be located on six parcels. The large amenity building and public park would be open to the public but Richard said it would likely not be a destination area and would be geared to the local neighbourhood.
"This is not intended to serve people from all over," she said. "This is to serve those who might be walking the Traboulay [PoCo] Trail or those who might live in the area... It will serve as an amenity to the local neighbourhood."
The developer is also responsible for building several roads in the area, including the extension of the Fremont Connector between Dominion Avenue and Lougheed Highway. A parking lot will also be built, creating a buffer between the residential and industrial portions of the property and allowing more people to access the Traboulay-PoCo Trail.
But not everyone on council is satisfied with the proposal.
The residential portion is the second half of a two-part development application for a 42-acre property that was originally zoned entirely industrial. In order to make the application work Con-West, the site's developer, worked out a deal with the city guaranteeing industrial development on a 17-acre portion providing it could use the rest of the land for residential property. Coun. Mike Forrest said the arrangement is short-sighted, adding that the loss of the industrial land means fewer high-paying jobs for local residents.
"For continuity, I will be voting against this," he said. "I still believe we have lost jobs in Port Coquitlam by losing a large chunk of property to a different use."
He did add, however, that the design proposal for the residential development is a "class act."
Coun. Sherry Carroll also voted against the proposal, saying the high-density development was too far from services and transit. The property's isolation would create an island effect and clog local roads with traffic, she said.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
