Burke Mountain development plans will destroy urban forest, resident says

In an effort to protect an urban forest on Burke Mountain, a Coquitlam man has proposed a new solution for the growing neighbourhood. 

As it currently stands, a swath of land along the Burke Village Promenade is zoned for the future development of medium density apartments.

If that development was realized, and particularly if it also included underground parking, a stretch of cedar tree would be cut off from an aquifer located to the west, according to Burke Mountain resident Lou Okruhlica.

“The urban forest is in the heart of Burke Mountain,” Okruhlica stated during Coquitlam’s Dec. 11 council-in-committee meeting. “We’re going to try and jam 60,000 people onto Burke Mountain, with no tall trees for the generations to come.”

The forest, which includes centuries-old cedar trees, is the last one on the lower half of Burke Mountain, said Okruhlica, who also created a petition to save the forest earlier this year. That petition, dedicated to saving “the last cedar forest on Burke Mountain,” has received more than 30,000 signatures.  

Okruhlica said he hopes the city will integrate a park in the area currently designated for housing and flip the development plans to the southwest, roughly halfway down Dollar Crescent. This will allow for a better flow of water into the forest, he added. 

“Around the west side of the lot, there’s a massive cedar,” stated Okruhlica. “You put a trail around it, into the forest heading east, put benches there, people will know what a big tree is on Burke Mountain before we cut it down.” 

Okruhlica also mentioned that there is enough space for a 1,100-square metre housing development southwest of the cedar forest, according to his personal measurements. 

Mayor Richard Stewart applauded Okruhlica’s presentation. However, he reiterated that only two percent of Burke Mountain is being developed, so his petition acknowledging the ‘last cedar forest’ in the area may be misleading. 

“About 98 per cent of Burke Mountain isn’t being touched,” Stewart stated. “There’s about seven square kilometres at the base that was designated for housing 100 years ago and is being developed.” 

When the land was in the rezoning process two years ago, the city’s staff decided it was important to designate the cedar forest as a protected area, stated planner Chris Jarvie. 

He added that the park’s location was chosen due to its topography and accessibility to a nearby roadway and creek. 

However, the land just south of the Burke Village Promenade is flatter than the city’s original two-acre proposal along Dollar Crescent., Okruhlica said.

“My number is on the packets that I gave to council,” he stated. 

“I will prove to you that the park integration is way better there than having a park down the hill.” 

Coun. Craig Hodge asked staff if it was possible to filter water above the Burke Village Promenade into the forest, so the area would receive water even if it was cut off from the aquifer. 

Jamie Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, said staff are always looking at ways to maintain or enhance water flow intro critical parks or habitat. 

“In this case, that may be something we’re looking at to ensure we get that natural flow,” Boan stated. 

Coquitlam has not started design processes on a potential park in the area. There will be a public consultation process before any design is approved.  

In 2017, Coquitlam approved policies and guidelines for the development of the Burke Mountain Village, a residential and shopping district that is slated to encompass 120,000 square feet on the mountain. There are also plans to open an 80,000 square foot recreation centre,  the North East Community Centre, by 2027. 

There is no timeframe for when the Burke Mountain Village will be complete.