Ann Kitching, resident of Port Moody, requested that Council consider development in western Port Moody which is an area that has been neglected in the past and suggested there should be an Evergreen Line Sky Train station closer to where the line comes out of the mountain at Barnet Highway.
David Spence, resident of Port Moody expressed support for the comments in the staff report on the Evergreen Line related to recognition of Port Moody as City of the Arts.
Neil Cole, resident of Port Moody, noting that residents in his neighbourhood of ˝ acre lots above Barnet Highway are not big developers, expressed support for redevelopment of this area and support for an Evergreen Line station in the western part of Port Moody.
Terry Willies, resident of Coquitlam and property owner in Port Moody, expressed support for an Evergreen Line station further west noting that the further east the station is, the more traffic there will be on the road through Port Moody. He added that the related development could create a pretty good density and increased tax base for the City.
Laba Guebezai, resident of Port Moody, advised she lives in western Port Moody and expressed support for a western Evergreen Line station. She expressed the view that Port Moody residents have been putting money into rapid transit for the past 15-20 years and that city residents are not asking for too much and deserve a 3rd station.
Deb Nijdam, resident of Port Moody, expressed the view that the Evergreen Line Project office is not listening to public input which has requested a 3rd station in western Port Moody. She noted that the Project office has advocated for significant density at the sawmill property and that this should have been part of the environmental assessment if that is their vision.
John Grasty, representing the Western Station Committee, requested that Council:
1. reject the Evergreen Line Company’s proposed submission to the Provincial Environmental Assessment;
2. initiate planning activity to provide sufficient density flexibility to support a Western Station in the vicinity of Elgin Street; and
3. inform the Evergreen Line company that the alignment for the Murray-Clarke Connector should be dictated by the most cost effective synchronization with the Evergreen Line design, and not by any earlier, out of date plans.
He concluded by suggesting that if the plans are not adjusted immediately to have a station in western Port Moody, the result will be a decade or more of lost opportunity for Moody Centre and the one-third of Port Moody residents who will be bypassed by this new transit connection.
AND THAT the comments be forwarded to the Environmental Assessment Office prior to the August 29, 2010 close of the public comment period.
Moved, seconded and DEFEATED
THAT the foregoing motion be amended by adding:
“AND THAT the number of stations being planned to be built in Port Moody and the locations of stations as well as the request to have developments fund the capital cost associated with the construction of the stations, is not in keeping with the socio/economic interests of the community and that the 32 items previously specified by Council as being required be reaffirmed.”
Voting against: Councillors Clay, Dilworth, Lahti, Rockwell
The question on the motion as amended was put and CARRIED.
Voting against: Mayor Trasolini
“AND THAT the list of 32 items required for the Evergreen Line previously endorsed by Council be forwarded and it be reiterated that if there is an opportunity for a third station in Port Moody, the location be within one block of Queens Street.”
The question on the motion as amended was put and CARRIED.
Voting against: Mayor Trasolini, Councillor Nuttall
Deb Nijdam, advised that she has never been in favour of a Queens Street station because it is a pinch point and she would never take a car in there during rush hour. She clarified that she supports a western station to illustrate that there is not just a single developer/landowner proposing a western station west of Queens.
Sheila Francis, business owner on Clarke Street, advised that she is offended at the suggestion that the Western Station Committee represents big developers because she has been a part of that group trying to preserve heritage in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Neil Cole expressed dissatisfaction with Council’s decision noting that there is agreement that the area of western Port Moody needs to be densified and that the area should evolve.
Fred Soofi, property owner in Port Moody, questioned how the Evergreen Line Project Office determined the number of towers that were needed for a western station.
He noted that at the last meeting Council decided there should be two stations, one in the east and one in the west and encouraged Council to look more long term, as opposed to short term planning.
Terry Willies stated that he is offended that the public is not being given enough time to speak on this issue.