By Ron Devitt - Staff Reporter

Port Moody's parks and recreation commission has endorsed a plan to build a privately owned restaurant in Rocky Point Park.

The commission also determined the restaurant should be located in the southwest corner of the park, across the street from the Old Mill Boathouse.

"What they are proposing is to locate a waterfront restaurant in the park, with part of it on land and part of it extended over the water on piles," said Gaetan Royer, Port Moody's director of community services.

Approval of the location will be given to council at its Oct. 28 meeting.

If it's passed there, Royer said, the private sector and investors would be offered the opportunity to build a "high class, fine dining establishment."

Council would also have to get Vancouver Port Authority approval to build on the water. Royer said it would likely be a year before investors are in place and approval granted for construction of the building.

He said the restaurant is included in the Rocky Point Park master plan.

"It's just one more step in getting a waterfront restaurant in Rocky Point Park," Royer said of the commission finding a location for the building.