A prominent Port Coquitlam property at the corner of the busy Mary Hill bypass and Pitt River Road could one day be home to hundreds of new residents — if city requirements are met.
And one of them may be to make balconies bigger to give people more private space to be outdoors.
It’s a move that could be welcomed by condo dwellers whose small balconies can make outdoor socializing a tight squeeze.
Last week PoCo council got a look at a proposal by 393 Cathedral Ventures Ltd. to build 121 apartments in three four-storey buildings and 16 townhouses around a landscaped courtyard.
It’s a notable land assembly that is located across Pitt River Road from the Shell gas station but with traffic along the heavily used bypass, especially at rush hour, special efforts will be required to cut down noise.
As well, the city has learned from COVID-19 and the need for more private outdoor patio or balcony space and is requiring the developer to make decks at least six feet deep.
The demand for bigger decks comes as the city plans to open up local parks for booze and is allowing businesses to expand their outdoor space to provide more room for social distancing.
But for Greystone Place noise will be an issue.
An acoustical evaluation of Greystone Place found the building would need acoustically-rated windows and doors, additional layers of interior drywall and even air conditioning for some units along the bypass to reducing the need for open windows.
And additional study of noise abatement will be needed during the design phase to ensure noise levels are kept to Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards.
Retail and services would also be part of the project, as well as an outdoor common area with playground, landscaping, and places for seating and picnicking.
But staff nixed the idea of a rent-to-own proposal and is instead requiring the developer to provide at least 10 non-market rental housing units, which would be managed by a social housing provider.
A virtual public hearing will be held in future for the project, which has already raised concerns among nearby residents, mostly for traffic issues, height of the development and fit.
