Thomson townhouse project gets another deferral

Coquitlam council either gave a one-year extension to a townhouse development or to an apartment building disguised as townhouses, depending on who you believe.

A 118-unit development earmarked for six lots in the 600-block of Thompson Avenue received its second deferral following a vote from Coquitlam council earlier this month.

After getting approval from council in June 2024, developer Thompson Adera Projects faced design changes as well as some issues with legal documents and financial requirements, according to a city staff report.

The developer was granted a one-year extension by city staff, but with that extension set to expire at the end of July, the project was back in council chambers earlier this month, prompting a debate over whether the townhouse project is truly a townhouse project.

Coquitlam has a limited amount of land specifically designated for townhouses, emphasized Coun. Robert Mazzarolo. That townhouse-specific land shouldn’t be used for: “what is in effect, apartments,” he said.

“We should absolutely be mandating that they be townhouses. That’s where we’re going to get our family-sized units that are ground level.”

The project includes 30 studio units and 16 one-bedroom townhouses, which Mazzarolo said was not appropriate for a townhouse development and should be rejigged.

While Mayor Richard Stewart acknowledged his point, he came to a different conclusion.

The basement suite “truly is an apartment,” Stewart said. “But it fits well in the townhouse project.”

Rejigging the project to remove the studio and one-bedroom townhouses would likely result in a more expensive project that offered fewer units, Stewart said.

Coun. Trish Mandewo concurred, adding that the smaller units allowed the development to maximize its space.

A 2024 staff report estimated the developer would pay the city approximately $4.8 million in development cost charges and community amenity contributions. The developer would also be on the hook for $2,360 to be put into the city’s transportation demand monitoring fund.

Council supported the extension with Mazzarolo opposed.