There will be more density, taller buildings, and one new road in Coquitlam’s City Centre.
On Monday evening, council unanimously approved a development slated put three-six storey apartment buildings totalling 284 units on 1160 Inlet Street, about one kilometre south of Town Centre Park.
The approximately 2.56-acre site is currently occupied by 36 strata townhouses. The strata owners previously voted to sell the property to Polygon development company, according to a city staff report.
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While he supported the development, Coun. Matt Djonlic reiterated the need for more purpose-built rental and below-market rental in the city.
“As we look to our incentives for affordable housing, how we can get more of those units in these six-storey buildings?” he asked city staff.
This project includes 385 parking stalls. In the future, Djonlic asked if developers might reduce parking spots and re-allocate those resources toward affordable housing.
Changing neighbourhood
The neighbourhood largely consists of single-family houses, two-storey townhouses and three-storey apartments. However, the city has several developments in various stages of approval, including seven six-storey apartments and a 25-storey, 201-unit tower which has been approved but has yet to be issued a building permit.
The project is also slated to pave the way for a new street dubbed Jago Way that would run from Pipeline Road to Inlet Street, slightly south of Guildford Way and north of Tahsis Avenue.
One resident voiced concerns about gridlock on Pipeline Road, a lack of street parking and a lack of school space to accommodate new students.
The school district and the province make all determinations about where, when, and what size schools will be, responded Mayor Richard Stewart. The city’s official community plan has already designated the area for bigger and denser developments, the mayor added.
“We urge you, when you see an official community plan coming up, that’s the time to speak to whether or not you think City Centre can absorb more population,” he said.
The project should make it easier for local businesses trying to retain employees, said Katherine Van Vlack, who operates a Barnet Highway business. From Inlet Drive, many workers should be able to take transit or cycle to nearby jobs, she said.
In an effort to address bumper-to-bumper traffic in the area, the city is set to put four lanes on Pipeline Road between David Avenue and Guildford Way, according to city staff. The project would likely get started in 2024 following the completion of the Pipeline Road water main project.
Unit breakdown
- One-bedroom units: 34 (28 with dens)
- Two-bedroom units: 220 (28 with dens)
- Three-bedroom units: 30 (six with dens)
Units range from 655 square feet for a one-bedroom unit to 1,200 square feet for a three-bedroom unit with a den.
Childcare
The development is expected to house approximately 57 children, likely necessitating another 15 child care spaces, according to a city staff report. As is frequently the case, the developer is offering a financial contribution to the city’s child care reserve fund in lieu of bricks-and-mortar child care.
Cash on the table
Polygon is set to pay the city approximately $6.6 million in development cost charges and community amenity contributions, including $285,000 toward child care in Coquitlam.
The project requires one more formal vote from council before construction can begin.
