Underwhelmed council asks for tweaks on Fremont development; Heart ‘pathetic,’ says mayor

The heart of Fremont Village may need a little more surgical precision.

A proposed five-storey mixed-use building at the 800-block of Village Drive hit a roadblock at an April 1 Port Coquitlam council meeting, with several councillors describing the area as underwhelming.

“I think ‘underwhelming’ is putting it very mildly,” said Mayor Brad West. “It’s pretty pathetic.”

West took particular aim at plans to rejuvenate the 16,770 square foot plaza dubbed ‘the Heart.”

The plan references removing the “reflecting pool” and the “reflecting pond,” both of which, West noted, currently contain gravel and no water.

Plans for the area including a flagpole and a performance stage. However, a stage with no programming “amounts to absolutely nothing,” West said.

Coun. Dean Washington also described himself as being: “completely underwhelmed, due in part to a lack of density and vibrancy.

“It just seems like such a waste. It’s no Newport Village or Suter Brook,” he said.

The proposed development consists of 61,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space underneath four floors consisting of 198 apartments.

The units would range from 506 to 1,200 square feet.

The project is set to include a total of 142 one-bedroom units (130 with a den), 24 two-bedroom units (20 with a den) and 32 three-bedroom units.

Council initially cleared the way for a residential/commercial development in the area in 2010.

“Is this even going to get built?” asked Coun. Darrell Penner.

Other councillors emphasized the need for child care, improved walkability and community spaces like an off-leash dog park.

Council voted unanimously to send the project back for more information of how the design fits into Fremont Village.

City staff had recommended approval, describing the development as: “attractive and consistent with the expected quality of character of the Fremont Village.”