Developer soaked with six-figure utility bill

Nobody lives in the Westwood Street highrise yet, but the bills are already piling up.

Mosaic Homes vice-president of land and development Adrien Herberts was in Port Coquitlam council chambers on Tuesday to dispute a $266,888 utility bill.

“We assumed it was an error,” he said. “We have since learned it’s not.”

If they were to pay based on use, the annual utility would likely be between $5,000 and $8,000, Herberts said.

However, Port Coquitlam charges a flat rate for utilities per unit. Those charges kick in 545 days after the city issues a building permit, making Port Coquitlam the only city in the region with a “time-based trigger,” Herberts said.

“It’s effectively impossible for larger projects to meet that timeline,” he said, calling the approach “fundamentally unfair.”

Pre-sales can take around 18 months and building a concrete highrise can take two-and-a-half years, he added.

Cities like Vancouver and Coquitlam charge for utilities with per unit billing coinciding with occupancy.

“We’re not asking for special treatment and we’re not claiming hardship,” he said.

The charge seems “patently unfair,” agreed Coun. Glenn Pollock.

“Up until this point it has not been an issue,” noted Mayor Brad West. “We’re always looking to make improvements and to modernize.”

West called for staff to bring back a report on possible changes to the “longstanding bylaw.”

Approved in 2023, the two approximately 300-foot tall towers consist of 556 units on six lots at Westwood Street and Woodland Drive.

The south tower is set to be ready for occupancy in 2027. Excavation on the north tower is slated to start later this month.

Once complete, the project is expected to house between 850 and 1,000 residents. The site was formerly occupied by four houses.