COQUITLAM, B.C., May 17, 2022 – Three neighbourhood pockets in Southwest Coquitlam are one step closer to more housing options.
Yesterday Council gave first reading to a series of Citywide Official Community Plan and bylaw amendments that consider proposed new land use concepts for three neighbourhood pocket areas (Guilby-Grayson, Miller-Grant and Whiting-Appian) in support of the Southwest Housing Review project. In addition to extensive community engagement, the land use concepts have evolved through technical analysis, Council feedback and a variety of staff expertise through an inter-departmental working group.
These proposed changes will now be referred to a Public Hearing, scheduled for May 30. Residents may follow the public hearing or sign up to speak at www.coquitlam.ca/publichearing.
Proposed Land Use Furthers the Burquitlam-Lougheed Vision
The draft land use concepts for the three pocket areas further the vision of the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan to create compact, complete and transit-oriented communities. The land use concepts provide for new multi-family housing opportunities in a range of densities that are compatible with the surrounding land uses.
The draft concepts also recommend new and enhanced parks and natural areas, new streets and greenways as well as a new pedestrian and cycling crossing over Austin Creek all to improve connectivity, help manage congestion and provide safe and direct walking and cycling routes to key destinations such as commercial areas and transit and recreation hubs.
Neighbourhood Supports Land-use Changes
Each of these pocket areas were selected based on feedback from area residents who were asking for more density than what the current Burquitlam-Lougheed Area Plan initially called for.
Last summer, the City consulted with the public on proposed land-use changes in Guilby-Grayson, Whiting-Appian and Miller-Grant such as new parks, realigned roads and increased building density.
The public engagement included a detailed survey, extensive online background information, and online information sessions with nearly 200 participants who showed strong support for the preliminary land use concepts (ranging from 67 to 83 per cent). A summary of the feedback is available in a What We Heard infographic.
Land-use Concepts Explained
Highlights in each of the land use concepts are as follows:
- The Guilby-Grayson pocket the proposed land use identifies the area as medium density (consistent with other surrounding future housing).
- The Miller-Grant pocket the draft concept proposes a mix of medium density and townhome development. The concept includes a one-acre neighbourhood park proposed at the northwest corner of Miller Avenue and Grant Street. Funding for the parks and transportation infrastructure would be provided through Development Cost Charges (DCCs).
- The Whiting-Appian pocket draft concept, brings a mix of high density and medium density apartments as well as townhouses, organized around a central green spine (the Green Link). The area’s west quadrant is proposed as a unique mixed-density transfer area. In this area, a developer could choose to build the City’s first mass timber building of up to 12 storeys or develop high-density options by transferring density from one or more lots within the Green Link park area and donating the Green Link site to the City for park land at no cost.
About the SWHR
The SWHR is a multi-year planning project that aims to review and explore opportunities for expanding the range of housing options within Southwest Coquitlam.
The first two phases of the project examined values and objectives for the neighbourhood, as well as the three early neighbourhood pockets (Miller-Grant, Guilby-Grason and Whiting-Appian).
Future phases will consider a Corridor Development Strategy, which includes the second three neighbourhood pockets Austin-Poirier, Blue Mountain-Quadling and Charland-Joyce), as well as the housing choices and detached housing alternatives component.
More information is available at www.coquitlam.ca/swhr and www.letstalkcoquitlam.ca/swhr.
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Media contact
Genevieve Bucher
Director, Community Planning
604-927-3490
gbucher@coquitlam.ca