Struggling industrial business complex in Coquitlam gets new zoning

At first, the industrial complex on Barnet Highway seemed like an ideal fit for his business, explained Vancouver Safes owner Chad Myers.

“During construction, it became pretty clear that the complex was struggling,” he told Coquitlam council on Monday night. “I felt pretty lonely there.”

Myers said he often saw “suspicious activity” in the neighbourhood, adding he now keeps the police on speed dial.

Myers was one of 13 business operators at the 33-unit complex at 2660 Barnet Highway who backed owner PC Urban’s bid to retroactively change the building’s zoning.

Initially, Mayor Richard Stewart said he dismissed the request as a non-starter.

“We have never in my 22 years before, allowed the building to be built and then changed its zoning,” he said. “This just doesn’t happen.”

When first approved in 2023, the two-building, 100,000 square foot project was zoned M-1 General Industrial. The zoning allows for all industrial uses with no retail and only limited commercial uses.

The new zoning, B-2 Urban Business Enterprise, allows for office space, and commercial operations. In this case, the complex could bring on a company that sells fitness equipment, an engineering firm, or a home improvement showroom.

The request is unorthodox, acknowledged PC Urban chief operating officer Steve Forrest.

“We spent $60 million between land and building on this project,” he said. “If the market hadn’t changed . . . we wouldn’t be doing this.”

Between early 2022 and late 2025, the industrial vacancy rate rose from 0.2 to 4.7 percent.

While he was sympathetic to the request, Coun. Brent Asmundson emphasized the responsibility for businesses to follow the rules under which they were built.

“I know we like to have flexibility but there has to be some intent of the zoning bylaw,” he said.

In making her decision, Coun. Teri Towner noted that all 13 owner operators are in favour of the change.

“To me, that’s really important,” she said. “I want to see a thriving business happening in that area.”

Coun. Craig Hodge concurred.

“There is no benefit to having a built building that nobody’s able to use,” he said.

There’s a “blurring of the lines” in approving the rezoning and possibly setting a precedent, cautioned Coun. Robert Mazzarolo.

Ultimately, Mazzarolo supported the change, explaining the importance of small businesses in the city.

“I’m going to vote for it but I don’t feel good about it because I do think we’re setting a precedent here,” he said. “It’s going to be exceptionally challenging for us to say ‘no’ to the next one.”

The rezoning passed 8-1 with Asmundson opposed.

Aberdeen

Had the project originally been approved under the more flexible zoning, PC Urban may have been on the hook to pay to extend Aberdeen Avenue from Bond Street to Falcon Drive, a cost of approximately $1.9 million.

However, with a SkyTrain operation and maintenance centre now in the path of that planned extension, city staff are instead mulling a new intersection at Bamet Highway and Bond Street.