Neighbours of a proposed 149-unit development in Port Moody's Chineside spoke out against the project Tuesday at a public hearing.
The Terravista Place residents expressed concern that the building adds far too much density for the site and would disrupt a sensitive environmental area.
One woman, an avid gardener at the Inlet Community Gardens since 2002, said the rooftop gardens proposed would attract pests and would soon become a "weed-infested eyesore."
Moody Centre resident Wendy Swalwell spoke in favour of the development, saying it's better to add density with a project such as this than allow developers to cash in along the Evergreen Line by wiping out the city's historic centre.
The development will sit on a 4.3-acre site, with about 1.2 acres set aside for park land. The U-shaped structure will feature ground-floor townhouses and one- to three-bedroom layouts.
Earlier this month, council supported first two readings of the zoning and official community plan amendments for the project, which was first proposed in 2006. Staff have supported the plan because its terraced design means the building will appear to be three storeys from Henry Street and no more than six storeys when viewed from any other side.
Bylaw adoption will be considered at the June 12 council meeting.
Other Port Moody news:
An application for a mixed-use development at Clarke and Moody streets fell flat, and it wasn't because of density concerns.
"I don't want to approve the current design, I don't like it," said Mayor Mike Clay. He was backed up by Coun. Gerry Nuttall, who also panned the building's design.
The project calls for 99 residential units and nearly 7,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Minor changes to the official community plan and zoning bylaw are needed to accommodate the project, which will be located within a five-minute walk of the proposed Port Moody Central Evergreen Line station.
Councillors Diana Dilworth and Bob Elliott supported the application so that it could go to public hearing but the motion was defeated by Nuttall, Clay and Coun. Rick Glumac (Coun. Rosemary Small was absent).
