The prospect of 50 affordable rental apartments and 26 market rental units in Suter Brook drew praise from some Port Moody councillors considering a proposal by Onni to increase density in its last parcel of property in the development. Whether the rest of the community agrees will be determined at a public hearing for the plan on March 13 at city hall.
Onni wants to change the terms of its land use contract for the property at 300 Morrissey St. so it can build two 26-storey residential towers and one six-storey residential building.聽
The project鈥檚 512 residential units would include 76 rental apartments. A new 11,000 square foot neighbourhood park and 10,700 square feet of indoor amenity space would also be built.
The site is already approved for one 26-storey tower and two four storey buildings that would comprise 290 units.
Coun. Diana Dilworth said the tradeoff of density for the rental units along with approximately $15 million in anticipated density bonus payments 鈥渋s exactly what communities have been asked to do.
鈥淚 hope this sets a standard for future applications.鈥�
Coun. Meghan Lahti agreed.
鈥淔or me, the biggest benefit is the affordable housing portion,鈥� she said.
But Coun. Hunter Madsen said the added traffic that would come with the larger development is too high a price to pay for the rental units.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have any particular need for this extra density,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his won鈥檛 enhance the living experience for people in Suter Brook.鈥�
Coun. Rob Vagramov concurred.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 asking for too much for too little,鈥� he said.
But Mayor Mike Clay said proposals like Onni鈥檚 are a test of the city鈥檚 commitment to remain affordable.
鈥淭his is not a greedy developer trying to line their pockets,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e providing what we want; we want affordable housing.鈥�
But determining the cost for achieving that should be left to the community, said Coun. Barb Junker.
鈥淚 hope we hear from all of Port Moody about what they want to see on that site.鈥�
