Three low-rise buildings on the former site of a mobile home park in Coquitlam could soon be constructed as highrises - and the city would get a chunk of change in exchange.
On Monday, city council voted to hold a public meeting on May 28 on Polygon's bid to amend its 2007 Windsor Gate Development Agreement; the proposed changes include two planned eight-storey buildings jumping to 24 storeys apiece and an approved four-storey block skyrocket to 37 storeys.
If council approves the proposed changes, the city would get $500,000 to pay for Phase 2 of the Glen Park redevelopment - located across the street from the Windsor Gate community - and another $1 million for the city's transit fund to pay for an Evergreen Line station at Pinetree Way and Lincoln Avenue.
According to city staff, the transit fund recently received a sizeable contribution in density bonuses from the Onni Group after it bought a city lot at Lincoln Avenue and Westwood Street, south of Glen Park, for a planned 33-storey tower; the one-acre parcel sold for $7 million.
Yesterday, Hugh Ker, vice-president of development for Polygon Windsor Gate Ltd., told The Tri-City News while the company may be adding 125 more units, "it's not an increase in density. In fact, we are under-building by about 200,000 sq. ft. than what we could be building on that site."
Ker said a number of changes have happened since Polygon inked the city agreement five years ago, including the evolution of the City Centre plans and the start of Evergreen Line - a rapid transit line running from Lougheed Town Centre through Port Moody to Coquitlam Town Centre and scheduled to be open in 2016.
City planners are now working on a transit-oriented development strategy that will look at how to appropriately densify around the line, and build walkable neighbourhoods so residents can access Evergreen easily.
To date, Polygon has held three meetings with Windsor Gate homeowners on the proposed highrises, with many attendees voicing concern about more residents and traffic on site, construction noise, possible increases in strata fees and feelings of being "misled" about the development when they bought their homes.
At Monday's meeting, several council members also expressed concern about Windsor Gate residents and investors being blindsided by the changes (besides the height variance, Polygon wants to add more amenities, including a new central space, public greenway and additional indoor amenity space).
Coun. Neal Nicholson said he has heard from several Windsor Gate homeowners, some of whom like the upgrades, some of whom oppose them; he said all are pleased that Polygon has kept them in the loop.
Nicholson also said the city is "going beyond what is required of us" by hosting a public meeting. As Polygon already has Windsor Gate rezoned for highrises, a statutory public hearing isn't necessary, city clerk Jay Gilbert told council.
"I think this is arguably a better project," Mayor Richard Stewart said while Coun. Brent Asmundson urged Polygon to create unique highrises to enhance the city's skyline.
