Comments received at an open house about the future of Coquitlam's oldest neighbourhood are now being worked into an updated plan for the area.
City staff are taking feedback from the Maillardville Neighbourhood Plan event, which was held last month at Place Maillardville, and deciding the next steps to move forward with the wide range of opinions voiced by participants.
According to a city staff report, of the 180 people who attended the meeting on Dec. 1, many were split on topics like new housing types (i.e., row housing, stacked townhomes, etc.), building heights, parking and design characteristics.
Some respondents felt more density would bring more traffic in the already congested French-Canadian enclave while others welcomed the suggestion for more apartments and condos, saying the need for smaller - and more affordable - units was required; others said they liked the detached homes.
The city is also presenting the option of placing medium-density, multi-family housing on nine specific sites, an idea that has sparked considerable reaction.
Still, with development pressures in the community founded by Quebecois pioneers working at Fraser Mills more than 100 years ago, many attendees were united in their stance - especially with the potential loss of mature trees. They were also solid about the need for more parks, trails and outdoor recreation spaces and, generally, the need for "French flair" with new architecture.
As well, respondents favoured a new Nelson Creek Integrated Watershed Plan for stormwater management, a project that city staff will finalize this spring.
Bruce Irvine, Coquitlam's manager of community planning, said the lack of consensus on Maillardville's future is expected as the area has long-time residents - many with French-Canadian roots - and it is the city's most historical and culturally significant neighbourhood. "People are passionate about Maillardville," he said, "however, there are a lot of issues to work through."
The Maillardville Neighbourhood Plan was first adopted in 1989, making it the city's oldest neighbourhood planning guide for design and character. The update continues the 23-year-old vision of encouraging a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use neighbourhood with Brunette Avenue as the main corridor.
The draft neighbourhood plan is due to be presented to council this summer.
Meanwhile,Coquitlam is planning four more public opportunities for comment:
Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., a talk will be held at Rochester elementary school with award-winning urban planner Jennifer Keesmatt of Dialog and Margot Long of PWL Partnership, who will discuss the design characteristics of Maillardville;
Feb. 25, the city will host a public design workshop at Maillard middle school to look at public spaces in Maillardville (to attend, pre-register after Feb. 6 at www.coquitlam.ca/maillardville);
March 3 and 4, the city will have an information booth set up at Festival du Bois at Mackin Park, where staff will electronically survey attendees;
and in March or April, another open house will be held (date and place have yet to be determined).
jwarren@tricitynews.com
