Lougheed Highway church project gets another one-year extension

Two years after getting approval, a project that would allow for a church just off Lougheed Highway in southeast Coquitlam is still in limbo.

In 2024, Coquitlam council approved a project that would essentially slice away a small portion of the city’s industrial land and allow for Disciple Methodist Church to hold services on the site.

The project involves renovating the building at 1963 Lougheed Highway to accommodate a chapel with a choir room and banquet hall. A house on Coleman Avenue would be partially demolished to make room for 16 parking spots.

The project was back in council chambers in June with the church asking for another one-year extension to handle some outstanding legal, engineering, and servicing issues, according to the city’s general manager of planning and development Andrew Merrill.

“Things are proceeding, just probably more slowly than in typical times,” he told council.

Previously, city staff noted the project would chip away at the Coquitlam’s: “limited industrial and employment-generating lands.”

However, the site was never a great fit for industrial operations, noted Coun. Brent Asmundson during a 2024 discussion.

“This is a better use for this land,” Asmundson said, noting access issues on the site. “I’ve always thought this was a strange piece for industrial.”

Mayor Richard Stewart agreed.

“If we had a blank slate today we wouldn’t say: ‘Well, that’s where the industrial goes next to the residential,” he said at the time.

The building is used as a place of worship despite that use not being allowed under the city’s current zoning.

Based on that use, the property was granted tax exempt status after the owner won an appeal at the Property Assessment Appeal Board.

Total tax exemptions over the past three years total approximately $412,000.

The extension is set to expire on July 8, 2027.