Two applications to subdivide lots on one street has some Coquitlam councillors wondering if there are better housing options for the block.
The applications are for the south side of the 1100 block of Madore Avenue where the lots back on to Howse Place. The result is a mixture of hedges, fences and garages on the north side of Howse.
The owners want to rezone the properties so they can be split into two lots and a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite built on them.
Director of development services George Fujii said the owners looked at other options for the lots but preferred the two-lot subdivision for various reasons including the housing market. “It’s the most popular approach toward infill at this point in time,” Fujii told council Jan. 14.
Although council voted to send the applications to public hearing, Coun. Dennis Marsden wondered if there wasn’t “a more significant housing choice” available including packaging all of the lots on the street to make way for a townhouse development.
“It strikes me there’s a better option than taking these nine lots and subdividing them into 18. There’s probably something less challenging from a transportation perspective and an operating perspective,” said Marsden.
Mayor Richard Stewart said it might be preferable to do the whole block at the same time. Coun. Craig Hodge asked the planning department to provide a summary of choices prior to the public hearing.
“I want to know what other options are and if they’ve been explored,” said Hodge, who noted he might not vote to approve the applications after the public hearing. “What we do with this [application] will determine what we do with the other nine lots. This is very important because we could be setting the tone for the rest of the neighbourhood.”
Coun. Bonita Zarrillo opposed both applications going to public hearing. She wanted an assurance there would be a consistent look to the Howse Place side and didn’t feel council had adequate information on potential choices.
“This is the time for us to do innovation,” said Zarrillo.
General manager of planning and development Jim McIntyre said Monday’s vote did not commit council to a specific solution.
“There could be different options presented later, depending on what’s heard at public hearing and from council,” said McIntyre.
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