An issue that has for years been part of transportation planning discussions in Port Coquitlam will be a step closer to conclusion with a public input opportunity next week.
On Tuesday night, PoCo city staff will host an open house and town hall meeting at the Hyde Creek recreation centre to ask residents to pick their preferred route for the Fremont connector, a new road to link Burke Mountain with Lougheed Highway.
At the event, which takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. in the gym, participants can view display boards and speak with city staff, who will make a presentation at 7 p.m. A question-and-answer session with Mayor Greg Moore and city councillors will follow.
The feedback councillors hear will form part of their vote, which is expected to happen this spring.
PoCo Coun. Glenn Pollock, chair of the city's smart growth committee, said he's looking forward to hearing directly from residents on Tuesday.
During the election campaign last November, Fremont was a hot topic, with candidates offering pros and cons of the three possible routes.
North of Prairie Avenue, the Cedar Drive option poses the smallest environmental impact but the alignment is considered dangerous, with the number of homes and nearby schools, some candidates said.
The Devon Road route makes sense as the city already owns the road right-of-way and it wouldn't affect many homeowners, other candidates argued, while the third option - under the power lines on the east side of Fremont - is attractive as it doesn't interfere with residential or farming land, some contended.
The latter option - under the BC Hydro lines - is the first pick for the city of Coquitlam, which has already included plans for that route in its official community plan.
Catherine Mohoruk, Coquitlam's manager of transportation planning division, told The Tri-City News yesterday the city wants a grid network for the area and the Fremont Street alignment works best for its vision of Partington Creek, the easternmost of five Burke neighbourhoods.
Coquitlam hopes to have a formal written response to PoCo city staff before Tuesday's open house, added Jozsef Dioszeghy, Coquitlam's general manager of engineering and public works.
As well, the provincial Agricultural Land Commission has notified PoCo city staff that it must be part of any alignment decision as farm land will be affected.
Laura Lee Richard, PoCo's director of development services, stressed there's no immediate plan to build the multi-million dollar connector anytime soon. As a result, PoCo council may ask for more studies and public consultation.
"There's lots of good comments coming out from the public," Richard said, adding, "[Council] is going to have make that tough decision eventually."
The East of Fremont and Cedar Drive Route Study open house and town hall meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Hyde Creek rec complex (1379 Laurier Ave.). Residents unable to attend can email comments to [email protected] or mail: East of Fremont Route Study, city hall annex, 200-2564 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, B.C. V3C 3G4. Visit portcoquitlam/eastfremont for more information.
@jwarrenTC
