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Council questions project without 3-bedrooms

Developer goes against suggestions from city staff
Lea Avenue townhouses
Artist conception of a stacked townhouse proposal for Lea Avenue in Burquitlam

Coquitlam council has agreed to send an application for a Burquitlam low-rise development to public hearing despite the developer ignoring city staff’s recommendation it include three-bedroom units.

Adera is proposing to build three three-storey stacked townhouse buildings containing 60 units on Lea Avenue. The development company’s plans call for eight studio and one-bedroom units, and 44 two-bedroom units ranging from 455 to 1,040 square feet. Smaller units would be on the ground floor with larger ones on the top two floors.

During consultation with the city, “staff strongly suggested the applicant consider incorporating three-bedroom units, but revisions to the units mix were not incorporated,” said a report to council written by director of development services George Fujii.

Adera told the city the stacked townhouses are intended to provide smaller-than-typical townhouse units to home buyers looking for ground-oriented housing instead of condos and traditional townhouses.

“I hope the developer for this project is there for this hearing because I have questions,” said Coun. Craig Hodge. “I really want to know who they’re looking to [sell to] and why they don’t consider three bedrooms because that’s not what I heard out in the community.”

Mayor Richard Stewart said he’s been advocating for more stacked townhouses, but was disappointed the report didn’t include floor plans and a clearer details of the project. 

“I love this kind of concept because we haven’t see much of it in Coquitlam,” said Stewart.

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