Mayor touts 2010 developments around Brentwood

In his inaugural address during the Dec 6 council meeting, the mayor mentioned the following developments that relate to the Brentwood area (City of Burnaby):

Burnaby continues to attract a significant number of office, institutional, industrial and commercial developments as the recovery from the recent economic recession continues. 

We are progressing with the long-awaited Still Creek Works Yard and Recycling/Green Waste Depot.  The City has retained the firm of Walter Francl Architecture to undertake the detailed design of the new works yard and recycling/green waste depot located at Still Creek Avenue.  The proposed development will also accommodate some of the City’s engineering and parks functions being relocated from the overcrowded Laurel Street site.  

In addition to developing significant civic projects during the year, the Planning Department advanced a supplementary density policy. Since its adoption by Council in 1997, the Community Benefit Density Bonus Program has proven very successful in providing for exceptional community amenities. The City’s four town centres have achieved significant civic facilities, including childcare centres, non-profit office space, affordable/special needs housing units, environmental enhancements, community police offices and improvements to parks and park facilities.  In addition, the existing density bonus program provides for funds to support affordable housing initiatives.

In 2010, Council advanced to public hearing an amendment to the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw to provide for a Supplementary Community Benefit Bonus Density Policy.  The overall objective is to allow for the accommodation of increased residential densities in the Town Centres, consistent with the goals of the City’s Official Community Plan and other Council-adopted policies such as the Economic Development Strategy.

In combination with the existing density bonus provisions, the implementation of a supplementary density policy would provide for additional community amenities and for more efficient use of urban land in Town Centre areas.

Overall, the accommodation of increased residential densities in the City’s Town Centre areas would relieve pressures to densify single- and two-family neighbourhoods. It also supports the City’s plans to focus new development in areas that are well served by transit.  The new policy is consistent with the City’s long-standing growth management approach, which has enabled the City to maintain and protect more than 25% of its land area as park and open space, while protecting the character and stability of our single- and two-family areas.

...the Brentwood Town Centre continues to accommodate a substantial portion of overall growth in the City.  With a strong vision of the importance of creating a sustainable community, Brentwood development is creating memorable architecture and new public gathering places.  In support, the City continues to create greenways connecting parks, community centres, libraries and recreation facilities.

Interest in Brentwood remains strong, as indicated by several major development applications approved and advanced in 2010.  Among the largest of these projects is the ‘Motif at Citi’ by Appia Developments. It is a mixed-use project that features a 30-storey residential tower with 152 units and a 12-storey office tower.  At the southwest corner of Lougheed and Willingdon, Appia Developments is advancing an even bigger project that would include three highrise residential towers with 644 units and a 12-storey commercial office and retail building with 324,000 square feet.