Moody Centre takes centre stage in chamber debate

Their destinations are similar but the journeys they envision are quite different.

Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti and mayoral challenger Haven Lurbiecki each set out their courses for the future of Port Moody during a recent question-and-answer session hosted by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce.

It’s crucial Port Moody tackle the housing affordability and supply crises by focusing on high density near transit and gentle infill development in other areas of the city, according to Lahti.

“A staggering one-in-five Port Moody residents spends more than 30 percent of their income on housing,” she said. “There are many proponents that argue that expanding supply – specifically near transit hubs – is vital for building a broad mix of market, below-market, and purpose-built rentals.”

There has been a dramatic imbalance between council’s work on housing and its work on employment, Lurbiecki said.

“We’ve been so focused on talking about residential development that I have felt that jobs have kind of been the afterthought,” Lurbiecki said.

Lurbiecki has been critical of what she characterized as an excessive amount of condos in the current vision for Moody Centre.

“My primary worry with that has been losing our critical employment space right in the heart of our city.”

As mayor, Lurbiecki said she would repeal that plan and move ahead with a business and jobs district and bring new businesses to the city.

Those plans are underway, according to Lahti.

“We are going to be creating a jobs centre in Moody Centre,” she said.

There are strict parameters to ensure major developments in the area include a two-storey podium for retail or office space, resulting in increased foot traffic.

“That is really going to serve the local small businesses,” Lahti said.

Developments in the area should create nearly 1,000 jobs, Lahti said.

Lurbiecki emphasized the difference in their respective visions.

“We want very different things for Moody Centre,” Lurbiecki said. “I think you can have a thriving business and jobs district there without having to attach that to such high density residential tower development.”

In a discussion about growth paying for infrastructure, Lurbiecki noted she was the only councillor who voted against delaying a decision on collecting development cost charges. During that meeting, other councillors expressed concern that a sharp uptick in charges could make development unviable.

“That’s concerning that growth is not paying its fair share,” Lurbiecki said.

Asked about helping local businesses, Lahti said property taxes are a financial lever controlled by the city.

“You can hold me to keeping taxes low, keeping them as low as possible,” she said.

The mayor also said she would focus on core services, initiate an affordable commercial space study, and look to charge reduce rates for entrepreneurs who end up needing two small locations in one area to run one business.

The election is scheduled for Oct. 17.

You can watch the full debate here.