PoCo council unanimous on six-storey Leigh Square project, uncertain on apple tree

Despite some concerns about apple trees and the bears who love them, Port Coquitlam was unanimous in their support of adding some density to the edge of Leigh Square.

On Tuesday evening, council approved a six-storey project that will put 108 apartments overtop a commercial podium at Leigh Square and Wilson Avenue.

Consisting of four city-owned lots arrayed over more than 40,000 square feet, the site is currently occupied by parking lots and a small commercial building.

“I think it’s going to really give some life to the downtown,” Coun. Dean Washington said, adding that the development should bring more affordable housing options to the neighbourhood.

The NorthStar Developments proposal includes 16,730 square feet of ground floor commercial space, with Port Coquitlam owning three units consisting of 7,786 square feet.

The commercial space is earmarked for restaurants, cafes, retail, personal service and office uses. However, city staff recommended against allowing thrift stores, dollar stores, payday cheque cashing outlets, gold for cash stores, adult stores, and stands where the primary business is connected to e-cigarettes or vaping.

The apple tree

The development site includes an apple tree described as a “rare remnant” from when the land was used for agriculture, according to the city’s Heritage Resource Inventory.

While that tree would be chopped down, the developer’s horticulture team has taken cuttings to grow “genetically matched” apple trees to be replanted on the site – a prospect that raised some eyebrows on council.

“Is that the wisest thing for us to do, is put a bunch of apple trees downtown?” Penner asked, noting the bears that frequently lumber through the city.

While several councillors were equally cautious about the idea, Coun. Nancy McCurrach suggested there should some work-around, such as fencing in the trees.

“I hope that something continues to be done to help preserve them,” Mccurrach said.

Unit breakdown

• Studios: 10
• One-bedroom units: 48 (19 with a den)
• Two-bedroom units: 40 (20 with a den)
• Three-bedroom units: 10
• The units range from 525 to 1,000 square feet.

No market housing

When granting extra floor space in a development, the city typically asks for 10 percent of that extra space to be reserved for at least four units of non-market rental housing.

However, the extra space in this particular development adds up to 1,548 square feet and was deemed too small to accommodate four units of housing.

Instead of providing non-market rental housing, NorthStar Developments is set to pay the city an extra $77,400, or about $50 per square foot.

Parking

Generally, the city would require about 187 parking spots for a development of this size. However, NorthStar Developments is planning to provide 124 parking stalls. In lieu of the other 63 spots, the developer would pay the city approximately $2.52 million.

Including the density bonus and the parking reduction money, the developer is set to pay the city a total of approximately $3.3 million

The development is also set to include car and bike share programs as well as extra bicycle storage and a one-year transit pass subsidy for each apartment.

The application passed 6-0. Mayor Brad West did not attend the meeting.