A lack of schools on Burke Mountain has some area parents angry and calling on the city to slow development in northeast Coquitlam until amenities are built.
The issue came up Monday during a public hearing for a 137-unit subdivision proposed for the 3500-block of Sheffield Avenue. The plan includes five acres for a park and some land that will be set aside for an elementary school.
"That is 137 more families with kids needing schools," Amy Wong, a resident in the area, told Coquitlam councillors. "That is why I am here."
Janet Klopp, another area resident, also voiced her displeasure with the lack of schools. She said that Wesbild, the developer of this and other subdivisions on Burke Mountain, should be working with city council to lobby other levels of government for amenities.
"The people are there now," Klopp said. "The homes that were built there, they were designed for families."
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart reminded residents at several points during the public hearing that council has no authority over school construction, which is the responsibility of the provincial government and School District 43.
Stewart added that the city, the developer and the district have been working together to ensure that land is available and that the approval of the subdivision would be a step toward setting property aside for a new school.
"We have some real challenges," Stewart said. "I can promise you that there are members of council here that focus a whole lot of attention on this even though we don't have control over it."
For parents frustrated with the slow pace of school construction on Burke, Coun. Chris Wilson recommended parents lobby their MLAs.
"Having 100 people show up to the MLA's office demanding more action on schools might help," Wilson said. "A letter to the premier and the education minister and the MLAs will help. Those are things the community can do. If the community starts to really assert themselves I think that is one thing that could help speed this up."
Coun. Craig Hodge, who lives on Burke, said the district needs to look at potentially building two schools at the same time, noting that there are economies of scale that could come from simultaneous construction.
Last fall, council was told by SD43 that Smiling Creek elementary, originally intended to open by 2016, will more likely be completed in 2017.
Partington Creek elementary would likely be next on the list, with a planned opening date set for 2021, while a new Burke Mountain secondary is scheduled to open in 2023.
Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 people are expected to move to northeast Coquitlam, bringing between 2,594 and 3,100 students in the next 15 to 20 years, according to district projections. That is expected to add 8% to 10% to the district's current enrolment of about 30,000 students.
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