It could be lights, cameras, action in Queensborough in the coming years.
On June 20, council agreed to issue a three-year temporary use permit for 401 and 451 Salter St. to allow a motion picture production studio on the site. Ironwood Studios plans to sublet its studios and office space to companies involved in the production of movies, TV shows and commercials.
Although 11 residential properties are located within 100 metres of the site, city staff say there will be minimal impacts, as the priorities are separated by a row of hedges, a rail line and a wide road right of way.
New West taking on renovictions
New Westminster hopes the Union of B.C. Municipalities will take action to help address tenant evictions through renovations.
City council has endorsed a recommendation asking the UBCM to urge the provincial government to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to allow renters the right of first refusal to return to their units at a rent that is no more than what the landlord could have lawfully charged if there had been no interruption in the tenancy. The motion comes in response to landlords who evict tenants so they can make repairs to units and then hike the rents to far more than what the tenants had been paying.
While the city has endorsed a number of actions to inform tenants of their rights and to help enhance their access to information and resources, a staff report notes that these actions don’t address the practice of “renovictions.”
“For this to occur, amendments will have to be made to the Residential Tenancy Act,” stated the report.
Queen’s Park residents say thanks
Queen’s Park residents are grateful for the city’s efforts to curtail commuter traffic in their neighbourhood while work is being done on the Pattullo Bridge.
Kathleen Langstroth, president of the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association, thanked the city for having traffic control personnel at Royal Avenue and First Street to prevent commuters from racing through their neighbourhood.
“They have been instrumental in reducing the number of cars and making the neighbourhodod is livable, workable and safe during the Pattullo rehabilitation,” she said. “We hope it continues until the project is completed because it really has helped with the cars.”
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said that work is the result of discussions between the city and TransLink, who recognized there would be impacts and provided the city with funds to help manage impacts from the bridge rehabilitation project.
Developments approved
A number of projects got council’s blessing at a recent public hearing.
Following the public hearing, city council supported bylaws related for a number of upcoming developments, including an eight-unit townhouse development at 129 10th St. and a 16-unit townhouse development at 602 and 620 Ewen Ave. and 257 Boyne St.
Council also supported an official community plan amendment and zoning amendment for an area in Queensborough bounded by Ewen, Duncan and Stanley streets, where medium-density residential development, a commercial plaza and greenways are proposed. Councillors Bill Harper and Mary Trentadue voted against the zoning amendment bylaw as they believe the plan for the site could be improved.
New West council to resume control of parkade
New Westminster city council will once again be in charge of the Front Street parkade.
While engineering department oversees the day-to-day administration of the city’s Front Street and Carnarvon Street parkades, under contract with Impark Parking Services, the Downtown Parking Commission was established in 1988 to oversee the operation of the parkade. A staff report states that the Downtown Parking Commission bylaw delegates council’s authority in relation to the two city-owned downtown parkades – the Front Street parkade and the Carnarvon Street parkade at 410 Carnarvon St.
“The role and mandate of the Downtown Parking Commission will significantly reduce with the removal of the westerly portion of the Front Street parkade,” said a staff report. “Staff recommends dissolving the DTPC and reinstating the administrative authority of managing the Front Street and Carnarvon Street parkades directory back to council.”
A banner day for market?
River Market is putting up 10 large banners to help promote its tenants.
Council has approved a development variance permit to the city’s sign bylaw so it can erect 10 banner signs that are visible from Front and Columbia streets. Staff believe the signs will increase the visibility of the tenants at the River Market without dominating the streetscape or creating visual clutter.
Tower proposed
A 33-storey tower on Carnarvon Street could be the first building to be considered under Phase 2 of the city’s density bonusing program.
A proponent is proposing to build a mixed-use, commercial multi-unit development at 618 Carnarvon St.
Council directed staff to report back with policy direction for the development, which exceeds the maximum permitted bonus density. The density bonus program allows density to be transferred from “donor sites” in the downtown other sites in the downtown.
Bev Grieve, the city’s director of development services, said the site is located next to the SkyTrain, and the developer is in the process of obtaining approval from TransLink to cover the guideway (and some enclosure on the side) so the noise factor is reduced.
“It will make that part of Clarkson much more attractive as well,” she said in an email to the Record.
Penitentiary preservation
The City of New Westminster is sitting on a task force that’s pondering plans for the B.C. Penitentiary cemetery.
A staff report notes that the goal is to establish a plan for the restoration and preservation of the cemetery for the historical value it holds as part of a monumental piece in the New Westminster’s, and Canada’s, history. Along with the city the B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery Preservation Group, members of the city’s community heritage commission and city staff are on the committee that will review the cemetery and report back to council on their findings and make recommendation on a long-term vison for the site.
