Anmore South proposal goes door to door

It’s going from council chambers to your mailbox.

The latest update on the 151-acre Anmore South project is set to be delivered to each door in Anmore starting today, according to a release from the village.

The village is mulling three options for the land, ranging from 1,990 to 3,500 homes, all of which would be built over about 25 years. Each version of the project would consist single-family houses, townhouses and apartments. Rentals would account for about 20 percent of the development. Of that pool of rentals, 15 percent would be non-market.

While no final decisions have been made, council has leaned toward putting between 1,990 to 2,200 homes on the land.

According to a preliminary estimate, that comparatively low-density version of the project would add $400,000 in annual tax revenue to Anmore’s coffers. At the other end of the scale, adding 3,500 new homes would add about $700,000 to the village’s annual tax base.

Council is set to settle on the final iteration of the project after Phase 3 of the review process wraps up. Phase 3 is set to include a financial analysis, servicing requirements, as well as traffic and transportation assessments.

Coun. Paul Weverink previously noted traffic concerns after several residents supported a third road connection to Port Moody.

“I don’t think Anmore is gonna have a traffic problem, Port Moody is going to have a traffic problem,” Weverink said.

Council’s current preference for the project includes a connection to Crystal Creek Drive.

Owned by Icona Properties, the largely undeveloped property is located in southwest Anmore near Belcarra and Port Moody. The developer previously pitched building between 3,100 to 3,500 homes consisting of single-family houses and duplexes, multi-family townhomes, mid-rise apartments, as well as apartments perched over ground floor commercial units. The project also includes a new community centre and neighbourhood parks.

That version of the project would have brought about 580 new jobs to the village, according to a village report.

Noting its rural beauty and proximity to a fish-bearing stream, many residents have opposed the project as being out of step with Anmore.

Supporters of the project have generally emphasized the need to build housing for young families and seniors.

Mayor John McEwen previously underscored the cost of new infrastructure, particularly sewer.

“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,” the mayor said.

McEwen has also noted the village pays about $150,000 per year to Port Moody for water.

A minimum of 40 percent of the forest would be preserved amid development.