‘A little bit different.’ Port Moody readies response to Anmore South project

Port Moody council might have a lot to say to Anmore, but Tuesday wasn’t the day to say it.

The Anmore South development, which is currently in the community engagement phase, is set to put between 1,900 and 2,200 new apartments, townhouses, duplexes and single-family homes over 151 acres.

“I usually don’t get involved with requests from other municipalities regarding [official community plan] amendments,” explained Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth on Tuesday. “This one is a little bit different.”

If ultimately approved, the development would mean new water and sewer connections, more traffic, and impacts on stormwater, watersheds, and firefighting, likely resulting in “several comments and concerns,” according to a Port Moody city staff report.

Technical reports on the developments are scheduled to be available at the end of March, which is after the original deadline for Port Moody to offers its comments. Based on that discrepancy, Port Moody council voted unanimously to ask for an extra 60 days to review the reports and craft a response.

Given the potential impact on Ioco Road, it’s important to provide feedback on the proposal, explained Mayor Meghan Lahti.

“This isn’t just an OCP amendment, this is a proposal to remove a large swath from the urban containment boundary,” she said.

A key reason for the existence of the urban containment boundary is to limit urban sprawl, which Lahti called: “the death knell.”

“There is definitely good reason for us to have some concern about this,” she said, emphasizing the need to express those thoughts in a thoughtful and informed manner.

In 2024, the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society expressed misgivings about the project, largely due to the possibility of ecological harm.

“If approved, this development will negatively impact the abundant wildlife, healthy riparian area and overall natural integrity of the area,” wrote BIMES president Kevin Ryan.

During a previous discussion on the project, Anmore Mayor John McEwen emphasized the challenges faced by the village, including spending about $120,000 a year to buy water from Port Moody: “with no long-term commitment.”

As part of the Icona project, Anmore South would be connected to regional drinking water and sewer systems.

“We need our own water. We need our own services here,” McEwen said. “We will, as a village, never get another opportunity for a developer to service our village . . . or we’ll have to pay for it ourselves.”