A proposed Port Moody housing development that pays homage to historical Tudor stylings has some history of its own to deal with as the owner seeks city approval.
The proposal for eight townhouses and 35 apartment units plus six commercial retail units on four lots now used for parking for Burrard Public House has a chunk of land missing: 85 Kyle St. which has a different owner.
And some members of the city’s Community Planning Advisory Committee aren’t happy about it.
“The fact is, this doesn’t work for me,” Coun. Diana Dilworth told the committee last week, calling for a review of the issue while also endorsing the project in principle and saying, “There’s some really really good things about this application."
“We can’t make a sale when there’s no willing seller or purchase,” said Gaetan Royer of CityState Consulting Services, who is representing the land developer, Damir Duganzic.
But said the new development would be designed for a future addition, should the situation change to incorporate the land now housing a long-time shoe repair shop.
Until then, a blank wall could be used for public art, such as a mural or a green wall, Royer said.
Some members of the committee said the project, two years in the planning, shouldn’t fail because of the one issue but Mayor Mike Clay expressed concern about a blank wall and called for staff advice.
In the end, the committee endorsed the project in principle, subject to a review of the missing parcel and other issues identified by staff.
Meanwhile, some committee members expressed interest in some of the project’s initiatives, including nanny suites for elderly parents or caregivers, and electric car chargers.
According to Royer, the nanny suites are a way to help people age in place.
“There’s long waiting lists for seniors' homes. We’re looking after aging parents who require support, but also they can invade your privacy to a certain extent … We thought why not design units specifically for that,” Royer said in an earlier interview with the Tri-City News.
The units are designed to have a main hallway door into a foyer with doors inside leading to the separate living areas. They’ll share laundry facilities but have separate bedroom and kitchen/eating areas.
