Tri-City civic officials will fire off their long list of complaints about the draft regional growth strategy to the Metro Vancouver board this month.

Municipal governments in the Lower Mainland have until April 8 to submit their comments on the blueprint, which outlines, in broad terms, how the region should look over the next 40 years.

Called "Metro Vancouver 2040 — Shaping Our Future," the document has been in the works for about two years to update the equally controversial Liveable Region Strategic Plan. Municipal land uses, servicing and transportation choices as well as economic and environmental issues are highlighted in the framework.

According to the strategy, the Tri-Cities will swell with a projected 170,000 more residents — about the same growth trend as Burnaby and New Westminster but 26,000 fewer residents than what Vancouver will gain. As a result, the Tri-Cities will feel a squeeze on housing demands, it states.

A new and effective master plan is considered vital for Metro Vancouver as the population grows by a projected 50% to 3.4 million by 2040.

Coquitlam Coun. Lou Sekora, who chairs the city's land use and planning committee, dismissed the report, saying Metro Vancouver has "no business sticking their noses into municipal matters."

"I've got a great difficulty with the GVRD [Metro Vancouver] telling the cities what they should look like," he said at last Monday's committee meeting.

"This is such a Vancouver-centric document," Coun. Selina Robinson added, noting the report has "flawed language" and she has concerns with the proposed transit hubs.

Laura Lee Richard, the city of Port Coquitlam's director of development, said the strategy's population, housing and employment figures don't jibe with the city's numbers in its official community plan (cities would be required to ensure their OCPs change to conform with the regional strategy).

"We do not believe it is possible for the city to meet the targets for a number of reasons," she said at last Monday's city council meeting. "There are physical limitations created by the natural and built environment to many of our designated areas. There are no plans to extend rapid transit to our city in support of these targets and, without financial support from senior levels of government, we do not have the wherewithal to achieve housing targets."

Port Moody council also wants to lobby the provincial and federal governments for increased funding for affordable housing, a key topic in the strategy.

The so-called no-build "green zones" worry Coun. Mae Reid, a Metro Vancouver rep for Coquitlam and a realtor. The designations, especially for Riverview Hospital, which the city is trying to preserve, and golf courses, are not clearly indicated, she said.

As well, Reid queried if the strategy would affect the development of Burke Mountain, where the city plans to add another 24,000 residents over the next 10 to 15 years.

Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam's general manager of planning, said Metro Vancouver "is trying to find an appropriate balance for the region and municipalities" and more discussions will take place.

• Metro Vancouver will host a public consultation on the regional strategic growth document on May 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Leigh Square Community Arts Village (2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam). To register to attend, visit www.metrovancouver.org.

jwarren@tricitynews.com

– with files from Jeff Nagel, Black Press

PUBLIC MEETINGS

(all from 7-9 p.m. with registration at 6:30 p.m.)

• Vancouver — Wednesday, April 22 at UBC Robson Square room.

• Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge — Wednesday, April 29 at Ridge Meadows Seniors Centre.

• Burnaby — Thursday, May 7 at Metro Vancouver headquarters, 4330 Kingsway.

• North Shore — Tuesday, May 12 at Eagles Hall, North Vancouver.

• Langley — Wednesday, May 13 at Douglas Recreation Centre.

• Richmond — Thursday, May 14 at Richmond Cultural Centre.

• Surrey — Tuesday, May 19 at Surrey Conference Centre, 9260 140 St.

• Port Coquitlam — Thursday, May 21 at Leigh Square Community Arts Village — outlet building.

REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY GOALS

• Create a compact urban area

• Support a sustainable economy

• Protect the region's natural assets

• Develop complete and resilient communities

• Support sustainable transportation choices

MORE ONLINE

The draft Metro Vancouver 2040 plan and other information is available at: www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/strategy/Pages/default.aspx