Burke Mountain townhouse project gets final approval

More townhouses are coming to the mountain.

Despite objections from some Burke Mountain residents, Coquitlam council unanimously gave final approval to a strata project consisting of 92 townhouses in 21 buildings over 5.6 acres north of Galloway Avenue.

In covering about 27 percent of the site, the project shows “utter disregard” for plant animal habitat, according to a letter to council written by resident Andriana Kowalchuk prior to a previous council discussion.

“Our interest is to preserve the forested area and maintain the value of the homes we purchased,” Kowalchuk wrote, emphasizing the negative environmental impact caused by building “17 unnecessary townhomes” just west of the houses on Kingston Street.

Mayor Richard Stewart addressed the criticism during a council discussion earlier this year.

“We are in a housing crisis. There is no such thing as an unnecessary townhome or an unnecessary home,” he said.

Applicant Infinity Properties is set to pay the city approximately $4.28 million in development cost charges and community amenity contributions. The developer has already paid $882,740 in voluntary community amenity contributions.

Approximately 50 children are expected to live in the development. Rather than providing childcare, the developer is set to contribute cash to the city’s child care reserve fund.