A 24-storey tower that would be the gateway building for a revitalized Austin Heights neighbourhood in Coquitlam is expected to go to public hearing this month.
This week, the city's land use committee granted first reading to the Beedie Group's application to rezone 955 Austin Ave. for a highrise called The Austin. Coquitlam council will consider the rezoning bid Monday and, if approved, it will go to public hearing on May 30.
The height of the proposed highrise was a sore point for area homeowners as city council recently approved the Austin Heights Neighbourhood Plan, a visioning document that would see Austin and Ridgeway avenues home to taller buildings, and residential lots to the south with carriage homes, duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes.
Coun. Selina Robinson said she wants to see The Austin include universally accessible suites and "recycling opportunities" for the owners. And Coun. Brent Asmundson said he wants city staff to look at a district energy system - central power plants, geothermal, etc. - that would reduce neighbourhood energy consumption. Such a system is planned for the Fraser Mills lands, which are expected to be redeveloped by the Beedie Group over the next 10 years, and the village core for Partington Creek, Burke Mountain's fourth neighbourhood.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
