Council pans gateway project; ‘Dead in the water,’ says mayor

The dispute in council chambers Monday was whether the cornerstone development project was far away from where it needed to be or nowhere near.

The project, which would have been the densest development in Coquitlam, aimed to build a 42-storey tower on two lots at 576 and 590 Lougheed Highway – part of which is currently occupied by an autobody shop.

“We do consider this a very important gateway site,” noted architect Arno Matis.

Because of the triangular lot shape, the rental project would resemble a flatiron building he told council, explaining the request for extra height and density.

The project was drawn up to include 10 below-market units – a figure that failed to impress Coun. Dennis Marsden.

“I don’t know if your number of below market – 2.7 percent – would put a whole lot of weight towards an argument of, make an exception to policy.”

The project also involved closing part of Edgar Avenue, which would impact driveway access, garbage and recycling pickup, as well as connections to transit, according to city staff.

While the world isn’t black and white, Marsden said he would need to see “significant benefits” for the city before getting into the grey area.

“I think this application has a long way to go,” concurred Coun. Robert Mazzarolo.

A previous incarnation of the proposal included 92 below-market units, Mazzarolo said, questioning the reduction.

City staff told Mazzarolo they hadn’t analyzed the most recent proposal, a fact that rankled Mayor Richard Stewart.

“Council doesn’t like seeing applications that staff haven’t seen. At least, I don’t like it,” Stewart said.

Besides exceeding the density envisioned for the site by two-and-a-half to three times, the proposal isn’t aligned with any city plans for the neighbourhood, according to Stewart.

“I’ve heard a couple of colleagues say this has a long way to go,” he noted. “I don’t think so. I think this one’s dead in the water.”

Noting that a portion of the land in question is owned by the city, Stewart noted numerous complaints, adding he was not “predisposed” to reward developers who don’t care for their property.

Concluding the discussion, Coun. Teri Towner encouraged the developer to keep at it.

“I do also encourage you to speak with staff and keep working on it. Maybe we’ll see you again in a few months,” she said.

Located by Dunlop Street on the fringe of the Burquitlam-Lougheed area, the building would have been about 875 metres from Lougheed Town Center Skytrain.