A neighbourhood planning process is now underway for Coronation Park in Port Moody, a small pocket of mostly single-family homes that will be within walking distance of the Inlet Centre Evergreen Line station.
That process kicked off last week with a community input meeting, where residents had a chance to tell council members what they'd be willing to see in their neighbourhood, which is bounded by Ioco Road, Barnet Highway, Guildford Drive and the Coquitlam border on Balmoral Drive. Many spoke up in favour of some new development but emphasized it needs to be respectful of current residents, particularly those who'd like to stay in the neighbourhood.
"Anywhere there's a subway station, there's density. It's inevitable, there has to be some development in Coronation Park," said one resident, pointing out that greater density in the area would mean a broader tax base for the city. "I've been here since 1960 but the times are a-changing."
Another resident suggested Coronation Park could offer a greater mix of housing for the elderly and young families who want to get out of their cars, use transit and live, work and play in the same area. "Having single family homes… that's not the way anymore, it's just not affordable."
Several more residents spoke about the tight-knit community and the need to preserve green space and the mature trees. Others raised concerns about construction, access to and from the neighbourhood, and parking.
The recently adopted official community plan identifies potential redevelopment for the Inlet Centre station area, including buildings of up to 26 storeys on Ioco Road, between Klahanie and Suter Brook and the Honda dealership property. Nearby properties on Dewdney Trunk Road, St. Johns Street and Ioco are flagged for developments of four, six and up to 12 storeys.
The changes were part of the city's efforts to maximize new development around the Evergreen Line stations under transit-oriented design principles, with the highest density in areas within a five to 10-minute walking distance.
Coronation Park is one such pocket, sitting on prime real estate just across Barnet Highway from the future Inlet Centre station, but it was left out of the recent OCP update after council recognized the neighbourhood needed its own consultation process.
(An OCP workshop in fall 2012 flagged Coronation Park as an area that was ready for "sensitive infill" to transition the area from single-family homes to townhouses and duplexes, but residents balked at an initial draft presented in early 2013, which called for a mix of mid- and highrises up to 30 storeys.)
James Stiver, PoMo's general manager of development services, said last week's meeting was a good opportunity for council and staff to hear directly from residents. But with feedback ranging from requests for no new development to support for high-density towers, the road ahead will be challenging.
And with a land assembly already underway, the 156 homes in Coronation Park are likely to see some form of redevelopment.
London Pacific, a commercial real estate brokerage firm, has approached residents and recently held a meeting at Old Orchard hall to discuss the land assembly process. (The firm is also assembling land in the 2800-block of St. George and St. Johns streets.)
It's a concern for resident Jill McIntosh, who hopes to stay in her home but is not keen on living in a construction zone.
"I want to stay in my home, so I want any development around me not to block out the sun, and for traffic to not go nuts around me," she said. "Perhaps there's a way for most of us to be close to what we want."
Stiver said staff will be compiling feedback heard last week and presenting it to the land use committee meeting on July 7. Staff will then be developing terms of reference for the neighbourhood plan, with formal consultation with residents and stakeholders likely in the fall.
"We probably won't have options on the table for council consideration until late this year, early next year," Stiver said.
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