More housing is coming to Coquitlam’s Oakdale neighbourhood but how much density should be added is still up for debate among residents.
Three options were presented at an open house Saturday, ranging from detached homes and low-rise apartments (Option 1) to townhouses and transit-village commercial (Option 3).
According to Maria Mastromonaco, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 18 years, enthusiasm for the changes varies depending on what sub-area a person resides in. Homeowners in A and B, which are closest to SkyTrain and stand to see the biggest density increases, tend to support the changes, while those further away in E and F are more reticent, she said.
Mastromonaco and her partner, Bruno Gasbarro, live in sub-area D and are unsure how they feel about seeing their neighbourhood significantly altered with new development. They have raised their children in Oakdale and have concerns about parking and the impact construction will have on livability.
“Everyone’s feeling is it will inevitably be developed,” Mastromonaco said during last Saturday’s open house at the Mediated Learning Academy. “What is the best thing for each family?”
If the land use changes go ahead, she said she is not sure they will stay in their home. “It is so hard to say,” she said. “We are just going with the flow.”
Nicola and Ian Dowdall are firmly in the camp that wants greater density in the area.
They said they have kids who grew up in Oakdale and, given the Lower Mainland real estate market, they will struggle to stay in the area if more housing options, like apartments and townhouses, are not permitted.
“I know they are going to struggle getting into the market and if I can help them with that by going through this process, then, yeah, it is good for everyone,” Ian Dowdall told The Tri-City News.
The Dowdalls acknowledge the potential financial windfall should the potential density on their property significantly increase. As homeowners in sub-area B — a street that under Option 3 would go from detached housing to high-density residential — they stand to make a nice return on their investment if the property is upzoned, they said.
“You can double your money on the property depending on the density,” Ian Dowdall said. “So there is definitely a financial incentive for people to do this but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the wrong thing to do.”
Ingrid and Jack Bi live in sub-area D and support Option 3, and said they love the neighbourhood and want to open it up to more residents who, like them, want to start out owning a townhouse or apartment before moving to a detached home.
“We have been through the toughness of trying to own a property,” said Jack Bi. “If we can provide more options to the next generation, I will be happy.”
The city has been consulting with the public on the land use designation update, which they said will guide development in the Oakdale area for the next 25 years. Residents can weigh here until Sept. 30.
