An early bid by a Burke Mountain developer to create five single-family lots in a challenging topographical area is getting mixed reviews.
On Monday, Oct. 30, Coquitlam's council-in-committee narrowly advanced the plans by Burke Mountain II Ltd. Partnership to proceed with Official Community Plan (OCP) and rezoning applications for the southern tip of 3511 Harper Rd., north of Hall Avenue.
The property is located in the future Burke Mountain Creek neighbourhood, the second housing area that's under study in the Northwest Burke Vision (NBV).
But the property is also in what’s called an "OCP Amendment Ready" zone, meaning council can consider bids for sites that are serviced and ready for development.
City planner Edison Ting said staff are against the proposal at this time as the municipality is looking at how to roll out the blueprints for the four NBV neighbourhoods:
- Hazel–Coy
- Burke Mountain Creek
- Goodyear Creek
- Riverwalk
And, given the provincial housing crunch and affordability concerns, staff are advising council not to build more single-family home neighbourhoods in Coquitlam.
Ting said Burke Mountain II Ltd. Partnership also provided three options for townhouses on the difficult terrain, but he said none is suitable given the land constraints.
Straw poll
The company's preliminary bid sparked a debate about the city's housing policies and needs amid growing pressures from the provincial government to densify.
Coun. Robert Mazzarolo said single-family homes aren’t the right land use in today's climate while Coun. Brent Asmundson said he concerned about proceeding without an overall plan.
Still, Coun. Craig Hodge said council is sending conflicting messages to developers: It's allowing "OCP Amendment Ready" sites, but opposing single-family homes.
Coun. Teri Towner said single-family lots are the best fit for the Harper property, but Mayor Richard Stewart urged the committee to hold off on the proposal and not put in development only "where the current water towers are."
Tensions rose when committee chair Coun. Dennis Marsden asked for a straw poll to give city staff direction on whether to proceed with single-family homes — contradicting the planners’ recommendations.
It passed 5–4 with Mayor Stewart and Couns. Mazzarolo, Brent Asmundson and Matt Djonlic opposing.
Couns. Hodge, Marsden, Towner, Steve Kim and Trish Mandewo agreed to consider a future OCP and rezoning bylaw for single-family homes. If council passes first reading, the Harper Road proposal would go to a public hearing.
