Port Moody council backtracks on advancing tallest development in history to public hearing following process concerns

An application to build the tallest development in Port Moody’s history had been advanced to public hearing earlier, but the city has now backtracked that approval.

In a statement released on Thursday, Mayor Meghan Lahti said that a special council meeting will be held on Oct. 25 to address concerns over the integrity of the previous vote.

“I have convened (the meeting) out of an abundance of caution in response to a question that has been raised regarding the separation and validity of a motion passed,” Lahti said. “It is of utmost importance that we uphold the integrity of the decision-making process and ensure there are no undue delays for the applicant involved.”

Council voted 5-1 to advance required official community plan (OCP) amendments and rezoning for PCI Development’s twin-39-storey project at the tail end of the meeting on Oct. 22 after 10 minutes of discussion.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki wanted to defer the vote due to the late hour of the discussion, levying complaints that the night’s agenda was too full, and rejecting attempts by other councillors to extend the meeting by 20 minutes.

She alleged her colleagues were rushing a critical project through without proper discussion.

“I just cannot even believe this. . . . It’s absolutely shocking,” Lurbiecki said. “Why would we rush this through right now? It’s irresponsible.”

The 125,000 square foot project is the first proposal for the 23-acre Moody Centre Transit Oriented Development (TOD) area, aiming to build approximately 865 rental units, with five percent at below-market rates. It would come with 57,000 sq. ft. for commercial space, including a large grocery store, 23,000 sq. ft. of indoor amenity space, and 4,300 sq. ft. for “low-cost artist and studio” space.

PCI Development’s proposal is offering $16 million in density bonus payments and $23 million in amenities to the city, including  $12.3 million pedestrian overpass, $3.9 million to daylight Slaughterhouse Creek, $1.25 million for public art and a $750,000 transit plaza.

Significant deviations from the current OCP are being requested: the tower height goes far beyond the prescribed 26-storey limit, with half the minimum distance between towers. However, a recently passed TOD framework allows for flexibility regarding the current OCP.

Numerous residents voiced either their support or opposition during public input period, which lasted three times as long as council’s discussion on the application.

The majority were in favour, praising the amenity package, space and support for local artists, as well as densified housing near transit.

Opponents, on the other hand, raised concerns that Port Moody’s growth was outpacing its infrastructure, the lack of affordable housing, and approval before the OCP is updated.

Coun. Kyla Knowles said that while she appreciated the desire to pause the project until a new OCP is in place, she noted the OCP update was put on hold because of new provincial housing legislation.

She said developers are already financially strained from inflation, interest rates and supply-chain issues, and construction delays would just lead to these costs being downloaded onto future renters.

“With respect, we can’t afford to do that,” Knowles said. “These are rental homes we desperately need.”

Knowles also praised the amount of green space being added to the Moody Centre neighbourhood.

Coun. Diana Dilworth said the city previously halted the sprawl of some single-family neighbourhoods with the understanding that density would be built around transit.

She noted PCI’s project meets or exceeds Port Moody’s policies around affordable and family-sized units.

“It wouldn’t be so urgent if the last council hadn’t stalled this project over and over and over again,” Dilworth said. “We’ve had transit here since 2016 and there’s not a single thing built around it.”

Coun. Amy Lubik said that while she supports the project, she was not yet ready to send it to public hearing, stating she had amendments to propose.  She moved for separation, but the motion was never voted on.

She said the site is the appropriate location for density in the city, and she appreciated the grocery store, artist spaces, and affordable units being offered, even if they were not required.

The city’s inclusionary zoning policy does not apply to purpose-built rental buildings, though council approved revising the policy following early input for the PCI’s project.

Lubik said due to the degree of variances being requested, she felt more negotiations were required, specifically around below-market units, green space, and the public plaza.

“I think we need to be looking for more below-market housing in this project for the amount of density that’s being asked,” she said. “Whether that looks like affordable artist residences, whether through more decreases in parking, bringing in partnerships or other things.”

Lurbiecki also said she had a list of amendments to propose, and questioned why discussion of a large development project was scheduled the same night as a public hearing.

She challenged previous comments made by Mayor Meghan Lahti that Port Moody was “not a rubber-stamp factory” for developments.

Lahti countered that Lurbiecki was using “manipulation.”

The special council meeting is scheduled to held online beginning at 4:30 p.m. To watch the meeting live, click here.