Long-awaited Burke Mountain townhouse/childcare approved

The wait for Burke Mountain childcare may be about to get a little shorter.

After nearly three years of delays, a development including 52 stacked townhouses and a childcare with space for 94 children has been signed, sealed and is ready to be delivered.

Coquitlam council gave the project third reading in April 2021, leaving the applicant one year to put together a workable subdivision plan and to address the site’s engineering requirements.

The applicant in 2021 was Ankenman Marchand Architects. The current applicant and owner is a numbered company. The change in ownership resulted in delays, according to Coquitlam city staff.

With third-reading set to expire and send the project back to the drawing board in April 2022, city staff allowed for a one-year extension.

When that extension was set to expire again last year, Coquitlam council pushed the deadline to April 12, 2024.

On Feb. 12, council gave the project final approval.

Located at 3420 and 3428 Queenston Avenue, the project includes 49 three-bedroom townhouses as well as three two-bedroom units.

The childcare centre is set to be more than 8,000 square feet.

The development is expected to generate approximately $2.4 million in development cost charges and community amenity contributions.

That sum also includes $250,000 in voluntary contributions to “offset the [official community plan] amendment.” The site was previously zoned Small Village Single Family. The new zoning allows for conventional townhomes.