New Westminster wants to make sure the city doesn’t miss out on employment-generating opportunities at Sapperton Green.
Bentall Kennedy has applied to the city to amend the official community plan to allow for a mixed-use, transit-oriented master planned community at the corner of Braid Street and Brunette Avenue. The 38-acre site is located around the Braid Street SkyTrain station, and is next to Hume Park and Brunette Creek.
Retail, residential and commercial office uses are proposed at Sapperton Green, a site that was once home to the B.C. Distilleries and then the Woodward’s warehouse.
The proponent is holding an open house about its plans for the site on Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall, 318 Keary St. More information about the proposal is available at www.sappertongreen.com.
Coun. Bill Harper stressed the need for employment opportunities on the site. Based on drawings in a staff report, he expressed concern that it appears two-thirds of the site would have residential uses.
"I don't think that is proper," he said. "I won't be supporting it if that is the case."
Harper said the city wants to focus on income-generating uses on the property.
Coun. Jonathan Cote said he supports a mixed-used development at the site, but would also like to see jobs provided at the site as there’s a limited opportunity for new commercial and office space in New Westminster. He said the site also needs to consider and be sensitive to the fact it’s located next to Brunette Creek.
Bev Grieve, the city’s director of development services, said the balance of office, retail and residential uses will be examined as the process moves forward.
"These are still early days," she told council about the application.
Coun. Lorrie Williams believes the site presents a unique opportunity to consider a community centre for the Sapperton neighbourhood.
Bentall Kennedy is offering real estate services for the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, which owns the Sapperton Green site.
“It’s an extraordinary piece of land and a wonderful opportunity,” Tony Astles, executive vice president of Bentall Kennedy, told council in August.
Astles said the goal is to build a vibrant mixed-use community on the transit line. He said the consultation process that’s been done to date has garnered support for a mixed-used development that includes multifamily dwellings, office space, retail and other uses.
As part of the project, Bentall Kennedy is proposing the creation of a new intersection under SkyTrain and improved signal coordination be made to traffic lights in the area. The plan would also include improved connections from the site to Hume Park and Brunette Creek.
In addition to making the most of the site’s proximity to Hume Park and Brunette Creek, Astles said there’s an opportunity to improve connections to the SkyTrain station, by bringing residents to the station through an area that’s animated with cafes and other services, rather than along the busy Braid Street.
On Nov. 4, council received a preliminary report about the application, which will now go to committees for
