Now is the time to register to take part in one of the upcoming information sessions regarding the Southwest Housing Review’s (SWHR) Neighbourhood Pockets.
COQUITLAM, B.C., June 8, 2021 – Now is the time to register to take part in one of the upcoming information sessions regarding the Southwest Housing Review’s (SWHR) Neighbourhood Pockets.
Coquitlam’s SWHR identified six neighbourhood pockets for review. Residents in these areas had asked the City for for more intensive development opportunities than their current land-use designations allowed under existing policies.
This current phase of the project will look to evaluate proposed land use concepts for the three neighbourhood pockets located within the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan area: Whiting-Appian, Miller-Grant and Guilby-Grayson. During the first round of engagement in fall 2020, these three pockets had the highest levels of support for the review of land use in their area.
How to Get Involved
There are a number of ways to get involved and share your feedback:
- Attend an information Session
- Guilby-Grayson – June 15, 2021
- Whiting-Appian – June 23, 2021
- Miller-Grant – June 24, 2021
All sessions begin at 7 p.m. and take place over Zoom. For information or to register, visit letstalkcoquitlam.ca/swhrpockets.
Staff will use the input received to refine the final land use and transportation concepts for these three neighbourhood pockets for Council’s consideration later in 2021.
Work to Date on Neighbourhood Pockets
To date, the work on the initial three neighbourhood pockets has included:
- Background research and technical studies;
- Review and analysis of feedback received during the first phase of public engagement;
- Input from a cross-departmental staff working group; and
- Testing the draft land use concepts to make sure they meet technical requirements and would result in future sites that are both possible and functional.
A land use concept is a key part of a neighbourhood plan that describes the existing or future uses and building types. Examples of this include where parks and roads will go and what type of residential use is permitted. Changing the the land use does not automatically change the zoning. Subject to public input and council approval, land use concepts are eventually incorporated into the Official Community Plan and related plans and policies. After a land use plan is adopted, eventually rezonings can occur and individual developments are subject to further public input on a case-by-case basis.
Preliminary concepts for each of the three Neighbourhood Pockets include:
- Whiting-Appian – proposes a mix of development from high-density apartments to townhomes organized around a central green spine along the Austin Creek tributary.
- Miller-Grant – proposes more family-oriented housing with the majority of parcels designated for townhomes with some medium-density apartments along Clarke Road.
- Guilby-Grayson – proposes more parcels for medium-density apartments, which is compatible with the land uses in the surrounding area.
More detailed information about each of these neighbourhood pockets, including proposed land use concepts, is available at letstalkcoquitlam.ca/swhrpockets.
The other three neighbourhood pockets (Austin-Poirier, Blue Mountain-Quadling and Charland-Joyce) had more varied levels of support, and will be brought forward for more engagement as part of a future phase of the SWHR.
Planning for the Future of Southwest Coquitlam
The SWHR will build on the Southwest Coquitlam Area Plan and various neighbourhood plans by examining the 38-square-kilometre area south of Barnet Highway that is home to some of Coquitlam’s most established and primarily single-family neighbourhoods. The project intends to study the potential of a more diverse range of housing options in an area where three-quarters of the 17,000 lots are currently designated for single-family homes, which are out of reach for many people.
Land-use changes as well as infill development – rebuilding within an existing neighbourhood – would help provide more new housing options while respecting the character of the surrounding community. New development would also help to bring southwest Coquitlam’s infrastructure (like streets and sewers) and public amenities (like parks and open spaces) up to the modern standard seen in newer areas.
The project will be completed through five phases:
- Phase 1 (complete) – Mid to late 2020: Background research and consulting with the community on the overall vision for the Southwest Housing Review
- Phase 2 – Mid 2021: Work directly with the residents and property owners in the three early neighbourhood pockets to create development options for these communities. Adopt some of those neighbouhood pockets into the Official Community Plan.
- Phase 3 – Mid to late 2021: Develop vision, guiding principles and preliminary concepts for the Corridor Development Strategy (CDS).
- Phase 4 – 2022: Complete and consult on the draft CDS as well as the three remaining neighbourhood pockets.
- Phase 5 –2022: Consult further with the public on the housing choices and detached housing alternatives programs. Prepare and present final report to Council.
More information is available at www.coquitlam.ca/swhr and www.letstalkcoquitlam.ca/swhr.
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Media contact:
Demian Rueter
Senior Planner
City of Coquitlam
604.218.1990
drueter@coquitlam.ca