Port Moody council is going to remain at arm's length in the dispute over the construction of the new Evergreen Line adjacent to a local housing complex.
A group of Klahanie residents raised objections last month over changes to plans for the line that will extend SkyTrain rapid transit to Coquitlam Centre. The residents contend they were misled over the height of the line, and a group of residents is now working with Evergreen officials to mitigate visual and noise impacts.
Coun. Gerry Nuttall put forward a motion that a council member be included on the committee made up of Klahanie residents and Evergreen officials. That motion failed to gain any traction around the council table.
"Us being involved in their conversations right now sets up the unrealistic expectation where people think they can just say no. No isn't a solution here," said Mayor Mike Clay.
The mayor is optimistic that some common ground can be found and that a parapet style wall on the guideway along with some tree planting can alleviate many of the residents' concerns. He said the Evergreen Line is 45 metres from the Klahanie property line and a sound engineer estimated noise levels would be under 60 decibels, the equivalent of a car driving by on Ioco Road.
"It's like every project, when the trees come down and the backhoes are out and the piledrivers are there it looks horrible. But in 2016 when the line opens and the trees are planted and the fencing is up, it won't be nearly as bad as people are making it out to be," said Clay.
