Anmore — a village of 2,200 known for its semi-rural setting and one-acre lots — may one day have a small commercial district with a coffee shop and small grocery store as well as condos and townhouses, if a proposal to redevelop a 52-acre parcel goes ahead.
And besides having places to go for coffee, medical appointments and fresh vegetables, Anmore residents could get cheaper water and even sewer connections with the proposed Burrard Commons development, according to a spokesperson for the development.
Greg Moore, Port Coquitlam’s former mayor, is working with Gilic Developments, which is seeking to build on the property located at the corner of 1st Avenue and Sunnyside Road in Anmore.
Moore said the company, formerly Brilliant Circle Group, which purchased the Ioco lands in both Anmore and Port Moody from Imperial Oil in 2015, is seeking public input on the proposal but will have more concise plans at an open house June 25.
“You want to hear as from as many people as possible so you can address the concerns before you get to a public hearing,” he told The Tri-City News.
The Anmore parcel is the first to be proposed for development out of a 232-acre property, 82 acres of which is in Port Moody and includes the historic Ioco townsite near 1st Avenue and Ioco Road.
Moore said consideration is being given to the environmental aspects of the Anmore land, including topography, watercourses and other issues, but the parcel is not virgin forest as it is a former gun range.
Indications from prior community consultation are that the public wants to see a mixed-use development, with housing for young families or seniors who want to downsize, Moore said.
In addition to Anmore approving an official community plan amendment and rezoning for the project, Burrard Commons would need approval from 50% plus one of Metro Vancouver mayors as part of the regional growth strategy.
One key consideration is infrastructure for the project, and Moore said plans are to connect Burrard Commons to Metro Vancouver sewer and water.
“That will be a requirement of our application,” he said.
But he also noted that the pipes will be large enough so that Anmore could connect directly to Metro Vancouver water, saving the $400,000 it pays to the city of Port Moody for a connection. The village could also connect to sewer, if it wishes.
“We’ve hired a civil engineering firm to look at four or five options how to connect water and sewer," he said. "We would work with Anmore engineering to find out what is more effective."
Anmore Mayor John McEwen said he’s waiting to see more plans for the project before commenting in detail but said the higher density being proposed for the area is not unexpected.
“We would certainly welcome some some commercial if it was some small boutique stores and diversity in housing choices,” he said, adding that Anmore, although semi-rural is “eight minutes from SkyTrain.”
More details about the June 25 meeting will be available closer to the date, Moore said. There is a Facebook page with more information, as well.
