Calvary Worship Centre's prayers for a new facility have been answered.
The church had applied to the city to rezone 260 12th St. so it could build a new 3,051.8 square metre (32,850 square foot) facility that includes a sanctuary, a coffee shop, meeting rooms and classrooms. The project is proposing 96 parking spaces, but zoning requires 105.
Coun. Betty McIntosh had noted that churches often have parking issues and wondered whether the church would have enough parking to accommodate the 1,150 people who could be attending church services on Sundays.
One of the church's elders told council Nov. 25 that the church has the ability to access parking at other sites in the area, which would provide it with up to 145 spaces on Sundays.
"Hearing that there are so many positives that the church is working on for alternate parking does give me some comfort," McIntosh said. "I wish them the best of luck."
Following the Nov. 25 public hearing, council gave third reading to the rezoning bylaw.
Banners approved
Spiffy new banners will adorn Queen's Park Arena in time for the New Westminster Salmonbellies' 125th anniversary season.
The New Westminster Senior Salmonbellies Lacrosse Club will be celebrating its 125th year in 2014 and wants to leave a legacy for the city and lacrosse fans by replacing the aging, mismatched Mann Cup Banners now hanging from the rafters in Queens' Park Arena. The team is hoping to replace 24 banners that honour teams and decades from the Salmonbellies' storied history.
"I think it's a really good project, one the city can really support," said Coun. Bill Harper.
Council approved $3,500 for the banners, which will be installed by arena staff in the spring - in time for the anniversary.
Crashed car replaced
A 2010 Ford Crown Victoria police car involved in a collision will be replaced with an SUV.
A staff report stated the police car was struck by a stolen vehicle that failed to halt at a stop sign on Sept. 1, and ICBC determined the vehicle to be a write-off. ICBC provided the city with a payment of $19,940 in insurance proceeds, and council has approved additional funds for replacement vehicle.
"As the Crown Victoria is no longer available from Ford Motors, it is recommended that this unit be replaced with a similar police vehicle that is currently being introduced into the vehicle fleet, a Ford police Interceptor SUV," stated the report. "The replacement unit comes at a cost of $60,000, including the purchasing of the vehicle and outfitting of equipment."
Highrise proposed
A 26-storey highrise with commercial space and rental units is being proposed in the downtown.
GBL Architects has applied for a rezoning and special development permit for a mixed-used commercial and residential project at the corner of Sixth and Carnarvon streets. The building would include commercial at grade on Sixth Street, 282 rental units and ground-oriented units along Carnarvon and Victoria streets.
The project is now going through the review process. Once reviewed by the advisory planning commission and the city's design panel, staff will report back to council.
Safety concerns at city hall
Short-cutters are causing safety concerns at the parking lot at New Westminster City Hall.
At a recent meeting of the city's special services and access committee, committee members noted that motorists are shortcutting through the rear parking lot of city hall to get from Sixth Street to Fourth Street to avoid the traffic backup at the light at Royal Avenue and Sixth Street.
Council directed staff to look at the situation and consider methods of traffic calming to improve safety.
"The mayor and I have almost been hit ourselves," said city administrator Lisa Spitale.
Helping animals in need
A Burnaby-based organization fields calls from people across the Lower Mainland about wildlife.
Krystal Brennan, the Wildlife Rescue Association's education coordinator, recently told New Westminster city council that the organization treats more than 4,000 animals annually, including injured animals and orphaned and pollution-damaged wildlife. The organization also offers educational programming and informs people "what to do and not to do" around urban wildlife.
Stefanie Broad, volunteer coordinator, noted that the association does a lot of work with the New Westminster Animal Shelter.
For more information about the association and details on how to get to the facility at 5216 Glencarin Dr. (and a free bus shuttle), visit www.wildliferescue.ca.
Expansion planned
An industrial building in the Braid industrial area is being adapted and expanded to provide additional storage.
Council has approved a development permit for 455 Brunette Ave., where an existing building will get a 306.58 square metre (3,300 square feet) addition for use as a mini-storage warehouse. Canadian Mini-Warehouse Properties, which owns the lot to the north of this site, purchased this site with the hope of converting it to a mini-storage building and incorporating it into its existing business.
Modernizing regulations
New Westminster is aiming to modernize its waterworks regulations so they're clearer to understand.
The city's bylaw was drafted in 1942 and has been amended many times through the years, said a staff report.
"The current bylaw is considered outdated and needs to be consolidated and reformatted in order to provide better clarity and consistency with other bylaws and legislation," stated the report. "The proposed bylaw will update terminology and language, enhance clarity and modernize the city's regulatory and administrative provisions of the water distribution system."
A staff report noted that New Westminster's water distribution system includes about 205 kilometres of water mains, 2,100 valves, 9,000 service connections, 712 fire hydrants, 14 pressure-reducing valves and 1,100 water meters.
