Sir Frederick Banting middle school rebuild plans are moving ahead but area residents say the new $22.5-million building will be too close to their homes and cause traffic, air pollution and vandalism.
On Tuesday, people saying they represent more than two dozen households aired their complaints at a board meeting, calling for construction to stop and site plans to change.
Jean Jin told trustee the school, which will be built on a north-south orientation at the corner of Raynor Street and Ellis Avenue, will affect the "safety, security and privacy" of residents, and she wondered why plans haven't changed since complaints were made weeks ago.
"Our very real concerns are not being addressed in a satisfactory way," said Jin, who said some of her neighbours are worried they'll have to move when construction begins next spring because of the school's close proximity and problems with smoking "gangs" in the evening and other issues.
But Devon Ross, who is overseeing the project for School District 43, said the building was located as far way from homes as possible and options were limited by site's constraints, including the community field and walking track, the location of Schoolhouse Creek and the current building, which has to be kept open while construction takes place.
Provincial seismic funding for the new school was approved last year, with preliminary design plans shown to residents April 29, and a further meeting to discuss issues on June 17.
Nevertheless, Ross said DA Architects have tried to mitigate some concerns. For example, the building has been sunk at the south end to minimize its profile; the drop-off locations for Miller Park elementary and Banting will be relocated and enlarged; and school start times will be staggered in September so cars dropping off students don't all show up at once.
Ross said consultants hired to look in to the impacts of idling found fumes wouldn't increase because of the the new school and trees would be planted to block residents' homes from the school.
As for vandalism concerns, Ross said Coquitlam RCMP has looked at the plans and said problems would be reduced because the new school would be more open to the surrounding streets. There will be community benefits as well, Ross said, such as a trail leading to the walking track, more parking to reduce the need for on-street parking, an art room for school and community programs, and a larger gym that can be used by community sports groups.
"If they have additional concerns and they share the concerns with the school district, we will continue to help," Ross said.
Opening date for the new building is the winter or spring of 2018.
