The much-awaited new elementary school on the St. Mary's site is closer to becoming a reality - but council would like some finetuning made to the site's appearance.
The City of New Westminster has issued a development permit for the new school that will be built at 200 Royal Ave. In addition to a new elementary school, the site will include a city park.
"Overall, I think the building looks outstanding," said Coun. Jonathan Cote. "I think it's going to fit in nicely with the neighbourhood."
Cote said he's pleased to see the development permit coming forward because the school project, and the related school projects, has created some anxiety in the community.
He said he'd like to see better pathway connections for cyclists and suggested the issue be referred back to the city's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, as well as to John Robson Elementary School parents who are interested in the issue.
Cote also expressed concern that a chain link fence and a three-foot high concrete wall around the site isn't "the most inviting" view into the school. He said he'd like the city to have a chance to see what can be done to address the esthetics, perhaps though a public art project.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr, a member of the joint task force of city and school officials who have been working on the project, expressed concern about taking any action that would delay the project - or even giving the public the impression the project is being delayed.
"We need to go forward with it," he said.
While Puchmayr could support having the city's public art advisory committee consider ways of sprucing up the esthetics, he objected to referring the pathways issue back to the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee as he fears it could be "throwing gas on the fire" in the community. He said the committee has already been consulted as part of the process.
"There is still going to be bicycle access," he said. "It's just not going to be through a park/school ground."
Puchmayr said the pathway has been considered from a crime prevention through environmental design perspective, which takes into account the safety of children.
He suggested that bikes traveling down the hill through the site could pose safety concerns for children who are running back and forth between playing fields.
Lisa Spitale, the city's director of development services, said an earnest attempt was made to look at connectivity on the site, which is quite constrained.
A staff report stated that the design guidelines for the St. Mary's school site address issues such as: building form and massing; pedestrian comfort and circulation; outdoor spaces; plants and landscape; parking and vehicle circulation; and park site guidelines.
Spitale said there's an opportunity to look at esthetic issues relating to the site's retaining wall as part of the park planning process.
"We need somehow to deal with it and make the whole building and streetscape more appealing," said Coun. Bill Harper.
While he doesn't want to delay the project or create increased costs for the school district, Cote said he doesn't think the issues of esthetics or pathways are "trivial" or "ridiculous" and should be addressed if possible.
"If there is an opportunity to have discussion, I don't think we should close the book on that, if we don't have to," he said.
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