Housing for residents with disabilities put on hold due to lack of parking

An affordable rental project for residents living with mental illness failed to cross the finish line in Port Coquitlam council chambers recently, with several councillors expressing concern about the shortage of parking.

B.C. Housing proposed a six-storey building at 2365 and 2371 Kelly Avenue for residents with disabilities – prioritizing residents with mental illness. The units would be offered at either rent-geared-to-income or shelter allowance rates.

“There’s not enough parking here,” Coun. Dean Washington said at the July 8 meeting.

Set to be operated by the New View Society, the project includes 74 units and 18 parking spots, including six stalls for visitors. For a development of that size, the city would generally require 74 parking spots.

Rather than issue a development permit, council voted unanimously to send the proposal back to committee for further discussion.

Residents living on a limited or fixed income generally don’t own a car, stated New View Society executive director Chantelle Burga in a letter to the city.

“For example, Maplewood Manor, a 20-unit apartment complex operated by New View Society, has consistently seen only two [to] three of its six parking stalls occupied at any given time over the past 15 years,” Burga wrote. “This is not an anomaly, but a trend observed across our portfolio.”

A maximum of 12 tenants would be permitted to own a vehicle at any one time. Residents would also have access to a shuttle service managed by New View Society.

Noting the site’s proximity to city stores and parks, B.C. Housing regional development director Zeb Roberts agreed with Burga.

“Typically, residents do not own vehicles and do not require any parking.”

While crediting New View for its work, Washington and Coun. Darrell Penner each expressed concern the Kelly Avenue building could be used for another purpose in the future.

“That building’s going to be there for a very long time if all goes well, and if there is that change with only a few parking spots . . . what does that do to the neighbourhood?” Penner asked.

New View Society was set to sign a five-year deal as operator – a deal that would likely be renewed throughout the life of the building, according to Burga.

“New View Society has a longstanding, reliable partnership with BC Housing, with operating agreements dating back over two decades,” Burga wrote. “During that time, not a single agreement has failed to be renewed.”

B.C. Housing director Roberts agreed.

“As the new building is designed with the operator’s vision in mind, B.C. Housing intends to maintain a long partnership with New View Society,” Roberts wrote.

Staff would be on-site 24 hours a day to provide mental health supports and life skills training, according to a release from B.C. Housing.

Mayor Brad West focused on the cost of providing 56 fewer parking spots than required. At a rate of $40,000 per stall, the variance works out to $2.24 million.

“That’s not an obligation that just disappears. It’s an obligation that will have to be borne by the municipal taxpayers of Port Coquitlam,” West said.

Breakdown

• 59 studio units
• 5 one-bedroom units
• 10 two-bedroom units