Park development okayed

By Dan Hilborn
Published June 8, 2005


An undeveloped park site in West Burnaby will be the beneficiary of a density bonus offer from a company building a four-storey apartment complex in the neighbourhood just north of Kingsway.

Council has approved plans to use the estimated $213,000 benefit to demolish several homes on the site of the future Inman-Green Park, clear underbrush, build paths, do landscaping and develop an open lawn area with some seating and picnic tables.

The proposed park is located at the northwest corner of Patterson and Bond, and will eventually require about $2 million to complete, said a report received by city council on May 30.

The proposed park site currently consists of 10 lots, which have nine homes, including seven that are owned by the city and six that are rented to tenants.

The density bonus offer came from Aquila Developments Inc., which is proposing to build its new apartment building at 5575 Jersey St. - about two blocks west of Inman-Green Park - while retaining a house with heritage significance on the property.

A report from the city planning and building department noted that a several studies over the past 30 years have determined that the West Burnaby area lacks an appropriate amount of public open space with recreational activities for children, youth and seniors.

The proposal will got to a public hearing in the city council chambers on June 21.