COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 28, 2021 – A revised transportation network is coming for the Oakdale neighbourhood as Coquitlam Council approved amendments to the Citywide Official Community Plan Monday evening.
The revised network eliminates the need for the costly Kemsley-Jefferson connector over Harmony Creek by establishing a new future collector route that connects the existing north-south Elmwood Street with the already proposed new east-west street south of Oakdale Park.
With the approval of the amendments, the neighbourhood can now look forward to a complete transportation network as the neighbourhood changes in the coming years.
Support from Area Residents for Revised Network
In spring 2021, City staff presented the revised transportation network to Oakdale residents, neighbours and other interested stakeholders through online engagement sessions, as well as information available at letstalkcoquitlam.ca/oakdale.
The online survey received 141 responses. Approximately 61 per cent of respondents were very supportive or somewhat supportive of the proposed changes and generally in support of shifting the collector road south.
Respondents did also raise concerns with the proposal, which staff addressed through a series of changes including:
- Converting the Bole Court extension into a Green Street that provides additional green space from Thompson Avenue to Nicola Avenue.
- Proposing an off-street neighbourhood greenway along the western property line of properties designated as medium-density apartments north of Chapman Avenue, connecting to Ailsa Avenue.
- A roundabout at the intersection of Kemsley Avenue and Elmwood Street to address neighbourhood traffic concerns, improve intersection safety, and have the roundabout act as a gateway into Oakdale.
An infographic summary of the engagement feedback is available at letstalkcoquitlam.ca/oakdale, along with the final versions of the revised land use and transportation network concepts.
Revised Transportation Network Addresses Development Challenges
Following the approval of the Oakdale Land Use Designation Update (OLUDU) in early 2020, the City noted that development enquiries and land assemblies were avoiding properties that included the new street connections and intersection upgrades. Of special concern was the avoidance of the Kemsley-Jefferson connector over Harmony Creek, which was to form the key east-west collector street for the neighbourhood.
As a result, the City took on a more detailed transportation network analysis and staff proposed a revised transportation network to shift the collector route further south, eliminate the need for the Kemsley-Jefferson crossing, and create an improved transportation network that is more cost-effective to build, with less of an impact on the neighbourhood overall.
About the Oakdale Land Use Designation Update (OLUDU)
During the development of the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan (BLNP), a series of land-use options were presented for different portions of the Burquitlam-Lougheed Plan area. Feedback on these options was then used to develop the draft BLNP.
Consensus was reached in most areas, with residents consistently supporting proposed land-use changes. However, in Oakdale, a sub-area within the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood, consensus could not be reached among stakeholders at that time. As a result, Oakdale was designated a Future Planning Area in the BLNP with direction to review and determine appropriate land uses for the neighbourhood through a separate, future planning process. Subsequent to the adoption of the BLNP, Coquitlam received numerous petitions, letters and phone interactions with residents seeking an Oakdale-specific planning process.
Public consultation for the Oakdale Land Use Designation Update (OLUDU) took place in 2018 and 2019 and the amendments to the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan were adopted in early 2020. Learn more at www.coquitlam.ca/oakdale
Media contact:
Andrew Merrill
Director, Development Services
City of Coquitlam
604-927-3416
amerrill@coquitlam.ca