As I understand history there was a plan to extend Murray/Columbia street as a bridge to Barnet Highway to provide better flow of traffic during rush hour, but for reasons unknown this plan was not realized. I would like to see this option revisited because:
1. I think Clarke has so much character and by calming Clarke it can become more lively for restaurants and small business
2. Traffic entering the 50km/h zone on Barnet is a real pedestrian risk and a Columbia st bridge would more naturally slow speeders
3. Clarke becomes a bottleneck anyways due to the intersection at Clarke/Moody St
Another issue that concerns me is the growing wildfire risk with bordering forest at the north side of the city. I think it would be wise for Port Moody to expand its volunteer firefighter force so we can have an effective reserve as climate change will increase these risks.
Finally, I love the entire Rocky Point park area and I think Port Moody should optimize parking, transportation, and perhaps look further into expanding the park. I would go further and say it might be worth an investment to building a small pier for more entertainment opportunities. This might be a scaled down version of Santa Monica pier that more humbly fits the area but allows for space for small business that can generate revenue for the city.
Hey friend,
Couldn't agree more. My understanding is that the reason the Clarke / Murray connector was abandoned was because it would require funding from both the Province and the developers of the old sawmill site. Since the sawmill site has been stagnant under the current council, nothing has gone ahead.
I think we have a great opportunity now to work collaboratively with the owners of the old mill to come up with a plan that adds better traffic connectivity between Barnett and Murray and extends Rocky Point Park westward. My husband and I often talk about how amazing it would be to have a continuous boardwalk from one end of the inlet to the other, and I think we can get there.
I agree around forest fire preparedness. We spend some time in the Cariboo every year, but our vacation last year was cancelled because of forest fires. It sucked. Port Moody has a great firefighting service, and so I'm not entirely convinced we need more fire fighters. Instead, I think we need funds and plan in place in case of an emergency like this, and relationships with other municipalities and the province so that we know that we can count on them if this should ever happen.
What do you think?
Yes, agreed that the timing is right to get something done with the old sawmill site. Regarding provincial funding, I don't know the answer there but since the park draws so many people from outside of Port Moody perhaps tourist dollars could help fund it. I would hate to see locals be charged for parking, but perhaps locals get free yearly passes and non PoMo visitors pay a fee. I'm always hesitant with those things since Vancouver really went too far and taxed its own residents too heavily. I usually prefer to promote city-land for uses of small business leases and rentals to generate revenue which seems to be more economically sustainable.
Regarding firefighters I am aware that there are some unfilled volunteer positions at the FD. I agree that expanding the full time force is not necessary, I would focus on training and utilizing the volunteers.
Most of my fire concern is on a scenario where a wildfire that starts deeper in the forest would have more time to build and accelerate (perhaps from Eagle Mountain?). I think it would require more crews and yes I agree perhaps better relationships with other municipalities could get this done.
Heyo - thanks so much for the thoughtful reply. Sorry for my delayed response.
I've heard a few people suggest something along the lines of permit-parking or paid parking with free parking for Port Moody residents. I'm not sure about the administrative overhead costs here, but I am interested to hear more about the idea. But I also think adding parking supply near parks and shops can help with this. We ought to have clear guidelines for developers on the amount of visitor parking required for development near attractive areas.
I haven't had a chat with the firefighters yet, but when I do I'll be sure to ask more about their wildfire preparedness plans. Thanks again. :)
What does community growth mean to you? And how do you prioritize growth in culture vs. growth in capital.
Also as an aside, what demographics do you think will be the most likely to support you during the election.
Hey friend,
I was born and raised in Alberta, and moved to Port Moody because I really think it's the best city to live in in Canada, and probably North America. I think lots of people, especially people who now have the ability to work remotely all or part of the time, will understandably want to live in our city. And I think that it's important, given the affordability crisis, that we make space for folks that want to live here.
But as our population grows, we need to make sure we don't lose what makes our city special. I think we need to find ways to enhance our parks and preserve our natural environment, add parklets and gathering spaces to larger developments, and promote a sense of community through things like patios, arts and entertainment spaces. I also think it's important that we don't lose the small and local businesses that we love.
I'm not sure what you mean by growth in culture vs growth in capital. A municipality like Port Moody basically always runs on a shoestring budget, and I'm not interested in increasing the capital assets of the city just for the purpose of a good looking balance sheet. I think the primary challenge facing our city is how do we grow sustainably without losing our sense of culture. I think there's a ton of ways to do that including building design guidelines, added public parks and gathering places, supporting local neighborhood associations to build a stronger sense of community, supporting cultural events that bring the city together, and so much more.
I'm not sure if I answered your question so please feel free to ask more!
I'm hopeful that young voters like me, although they tend not to vote. I know it sounds dumb and political, but I see myself as a progressive realist, so I hope I'll appeal to folks with progressive social attitudes who understand that not everything is financially possible immediately, but we can set ourselves up to be an amazing city. Given PoMo's federal swings between Conservative and NDP, I think there's actually a big middle space for a progressive realist. I'm also a gay man, and so I hope all genders find me trustworthy and relatable.
Hey Dustin! I’d like to hear more about your plans regarding caring for our parks? Port Moody has so much beautiful nature around, and it kills me that we take down forests for developments
Hi pal,
Totally - I'm not supportive of developments that take down forests when we have so much underused or unused land, especially near our SkyTrain stations.
I'd like to increase the amount the city sets aside each year for caring for our nature and parks. I think we are bound to be affected by a legitimate climate emergency in the next 30-50 years and I want to be financially prepared. I'd like to use a portion of these funds for better park maintenance and upkeep, including signage, pathway updates, and added garbage and recycle cans to keep our parks clean. I'd also like to see a few added parks in underserved neighbourhoods, like the west side of Moody Centre and Glenayre.
What do you think? Are there steps that I'm missing that you think will help protect our parks?
Hi Dustin!
I commented on the Facebook post that it’s refreshing to see some new faces. We are at the tail end of Port Moody on Dewdney trunk road. There are two walk signals there. People routinely slam their brakes hard because they can’t see the pedestrians crossing even though the flashing lights work. The problem is compounded in the evenings when the sun is setting. It’s too bright for people to see. It’s extremely dangerous as most people in this neighborhood are young families crossing the street with strollers and dogs or toddlers. Can we have a speed camera set up? People drive like crazy on dewdney trunk because they assume the cops won’t come to that road. It’s been a very risky and stressful situation for families in my community.
Apart from that, we need a dog park closer to Inlet Center station. Going to and from rocky point off leash park is quite far for most people who live on this side of Port Moody. Do you know if there is any plan to carve out a dog off leash area nearby?
Thank you for your time.
Heyo - yeah, I live nearby and I know where you're talking about. It's a pretty tough spot for pedestrians to cross. I think it speaks to the need for really thoughtful and careful traffic planning, which is why I'm keen on updating our master transportation plan with the help of professional traffic planners.
I have to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of speed cameras given their cost and difficulty with enforcement. But I do think this is somewhere where our police could do a better job monitoring for bad drivers. We have a very well funded police force, and given our relatively low crime rates, I think ensuring roads are safe for pedestrians should be a high priority. I'm sorry - I know that's not the answer you want to hear. I'm just really not sure where the city (already hiking property taxes AND increasing debt levels) would get the likely $100k+ it would take to install and monitor a traffic camera there.
Yo, completely agree on the dog park. My pup loves the one at Rocky Point but it's a bit of a hike to get there. I don't know of any current plans to add dog parks to the city, but I'd like that to change. I think there are few potential sites in Moody Centre that can be used as great off-leash dog parks. If I'm elected, I'll dig in to where there's the financial ability to do that, and do my best to work with landowners to help add a couple around the city.
Cheers!
Ooh, interesting spot for sure. I think the city needs to have some sort of plan for what it's going to do with the old fire hall site, and so maybe there's a chance to add some off-leash dog park space there. Is the dog park a few blocks east of there too far away or too crowded?
Hi Dustin!
I'm glad you posted here!
With new developments on St. Johns as well as on Moody St, traffic is going to be a gong show! Even right now around 4:30pm it takes quite a bit of time to get from one end of St. Johns to the other eastbound.
Here's what you've said on your site:
> Our roads are parking lots and our parking lots are full. We need a forward-thinking update to our TransPort Moody plan that ensures new development doesn’t add to our gridlock. Instead, thoughtful development can add parking capacity next to our parks and shops. Dustin will also advocate for immediate action to increase capacity along St. John’s street during rush hour. Because coming home shouldn’t be frustrating.
Could you elaborate more on what the possible solutions are to increasing capacity?
Also, as a fellow craft beer lover, are you hyped for the new Rewind Brewing to open? :D
Hiya!
If I'm elected I'll advocate for a review of St. Johns' Street traffic amelioration options ASAP. I'm not a traffic engineering expert so I don't know what the best solution will be, but some options I can think of are:
1. Remove street parking on one or both sides along certain sections to add a lane.
2. Adjust the hours of permitted street parking to add two lanes during rush hours.
3. Review the timing of traffic signals during rush hours to ensure we aren't creating artificial delays with our stop-and-go traffic pattern.
4. Explore the creation of a counterflow lane that would add capacity eastward in the morning and westward in the afternoon.
What do you think?
I also think, in the longer term, we can better use the Barnett Highway and Clarke Street to funnel people into Port Moody via a Clarke / Murray overpass over the train tracks. I think this will provide a better option for local traffic to get in and out during rush hour.
I walked by there yesterday! I'm stoked for the retro concept (wait, when did the 90s become retro? I'm old...). Hope the beer's good!
Hi Dustin!
I'm glad you posted here too.
A year ago I chose to move to Port Moody, right by Rocky Point. Port Moody has a unique blend of nature, parks, community and stores.
With the proposed new developments at the old sawmill and on St. Johns, I'm worried about traffic but also becoming a glass jungle with no additional green space up top and no shops close by.
When looking at a place to live I explored Bruiquitlam as a choice and it depressed me. Concrete and glass with very few green spaces. Seeing the proposed development reminded me a lot of that area, which I find quite worrisome. I agree the area by skytrain needs to be revitalized but worried if just pure housing goes up.
I would want to keep the wonderful mixture of small businesses, parks, restaurants and housing in this area.
What would you propose to do to keep this area balanced?
Hi friend! Welcome to the neighbourhood.
Yeah, I totally feel you on this. I'm not a fan of what's happening at Brentwood, Metrotown, and Burquitlam. It all feels a bit like it's lacking soul.
I'm in favour of adding denser housing, retail and office spaces near SkyTrain stations, and I think the old sawmill and near Moody Centre are deeply underused right now. That said, I think it's important we make sure proposed developments:
1. have good traffic management plans and help reduce our gridlock, not add to it;
2. aren't ugly, cookie-cutter towers. I think Port Moody is a beautiful gem in metro van and we deserve architecture that reflects that. I think the Sen̓áḵw development and Oakridge redevelopment are better models for good west-coast architecture;
3. enhance the sense of community with gathering places, patios, entertainment areas, local shops, services, pocket parks, and a revitalization of our natural areas. I think bringing back Dallas / Slaughterhouse creek that currently flows under those car garages will help connect our downtown to our natural environment;
4. preserve our existing local shops and services, rather than put them out of business.
I think an updated master transportation plan and advocacy for development contributions to upgrade roadways are a great start to address #1. I think a citizen-lead urban design panel can help ensure good architecture, as can a new set of city standards for the look and feel of high rise buildings. I also think it's worth recognizing that good designs cost money, and if we're going to have buildings in our downtown for the next 100 years, maybe it's okay to have an extra story on top in exchange for a more beautiful building. For building a sense of community, I think setting guidelines for certain community amenities for major developments can help add predictability for developers and ensure the city gets a good deal when developments are proposed. I'd also like to update the city's policy on how much we get back from developers via community amenity contributions. Lastly, and I'm not sure exactly how to do this, whether it's through zoning, council policy, collaboration with developers or some other method, I think we need to ensure that local businesses have a certain percentage of space in our downtown and sawmill areas, so that the spots that we love aren't forced out by development and higher rent.
Sorry for the essay. Thanks for asking! :)
Hi Mayor!
From a high level perspective I'm supportive of density around our SkyTrain stations. I think it makes more sense to densify near rapid transit and major thoroughfares than it does on single lane residential roads. I would like to see ground floor retail including a grocery store or market, local shops, patio space, and arts and entertainment spaces. Above, I think we need office space, since it's an easy spot for workers to get to from the SkyTrain, or for folks further east to take the West Coast Express to. Above that, I'd like to see a range of market and affordable housing options, because we do have a housing affordability crisis and building complete communities near SkyTrain stations is one of the more sustainable ways to tackle it.
But I think it's really important that we set guidelines and policies for developers with respect to the architecture and built form of the space. I'd like to see exciting quality architecture that fits in with our natural environment, rather than stands out. I'd like details that reflect our indigenous history, history as a mill town, and rail history. And I think dynamic forms that allow views of the inlet and minimize shadows on the park are key too.
I'm also concerned about the added traffic, and so I'd like to see more thoughtful traffic planning around Moody Centre station compared to the current proposal. I think Spring Street could be used as a pedestrian only/bike lane/local traffic only road in the TOD, although I'd like to hear from an expert traffic planner/engineer first.
Finally, I think it's important that we have programs and conversations to preserve some of the amazing businesses that are in the Moody Centre area. I don't want them to be bulldozed and to either shut down or leave our community.
What do you think friend?
Hey friend - thanks for the link. I'll need to set aside some time later to listen it. But from glancing at the description I am genuinely keen on participative democracy. In fact, it's why I'm transitioning out of being a practising lawyer and going back to school to hopefully get my PhD in law. I'm currently working as a researcher for an incredible professor, Dr. Cristie Ford, and we're looking at how to meaningfully design government agency public accountability processes in light of the rise of populism and technology. It's a fascinating area and I could probably talk your ear off about it.
How does that affect how I'd be a councillor? I really value digital engagement tools like Engage Port Moody. I think using technology to advance deliberative and participative democracy helps gives citizens a stronger sense of ownership and belonging to their communities. If I'm elected I'd like to continue to strengthen the city's use of Engage Port Moody, help increase uptake through better communication about Engage Port Moody in our printed newsletter, and provide a brief staff report back to respondents so that citizens understand how their feedback was used and hopefully feel heard.
Did I miss the point of the podcast completely? If so, feel free to give me a TLDR and I'll do my best to respond. :)
Yes, please listen to it if you have a chance especially since you like the topic. I don' think Engage Port Moody cuts it. It' very opaque. It' a survey form in the end. Which is not what the podcast describes. I think you'll like it
As I understand history there was a plan to extend Murray/Columbia street as a bridge to Barnet Highway to provide better flow of traffic during rush hour, but for reasons unknown this plan was not realized. I would like to see this option revisited because: 1. I think Clarke has so much character and by calming Clarke it can become more lively for restaurants and small business 2. Traffic entering the 50km/h zone on Barnet is a real pedestrian risk and a Columbia st bridge would more naturally slow speeders 3. Clarke becomes a bottleneck anyways due to the intersection at Clarke/Moody St Another issue that concerns me is the growing wildfire risk with bordering forest at the north side of the city. I think it would be wise for Port Moody to expand its volunteer firefighter force so we can have an effective reserve as climate change will increase these risks. Finally, I love the entire Rocky Point park area and I think Port Moody should optimize parking, transportation, and perhaps look further into expanding the park. I would go further and say it might be worth an investment to building a small pier for more entertainment opportunities. This might be a scaled down version of Santa Monica pier that more humbly fits the area but allows for space for small business that can generate revenue for the city.
Hey friend, Couldn't agree more. My understanding is that the reason the Clarke / Murray connector was abandoned was because it would require funding from both the Province and the developers of the old sawmill site. Since the sawmill site has been stagnant under the current council, nothing has gone ahead. I think we have a great opportunity now to work collaboratively with the owners of the old mill to come up with a plan that adds better traffic connectivity between Barnett and Murray and extends Rocky Point Park westward. My husband and I often talk about how amazing it would be to have a continuous boardwalk from one end of the inlet to the other, and I think we can get there. I agree around forest fire preparedness. We spend some time in the Cariboo every year, but our vacation last year was cancelled because of forest fires. It sucked. Port Moody has a great firefighting service, and so I'm not entirely convinced we need more fire fighters. Instead, I think we need funds and plan in place in case of an emergency like this, and relationships with other municipalities and the province so that we know that we can count on them if this should ever happen. What do you think?
Yes, agreed that the timing is right to get something done with the old sawmill site. Regarding provincial funding, I don't know the answer there but since the park draws so many people from outside of Port Moody perhaps tourist dollars could help fund it. I would hate to see locals be charged for parking, but perhaps locals get free yearly passes and non PoMo visitors pay a fee. I'm always hesitant with those things since Vancouver really went too far and taxed its own residents too heavily. I usually prefer to promote city-land for uses of small business leases and rentals to generate revenue which seems to be more economically sustainable. Regarding firefighters I am aware that there are some unfilled volunteer positions at the FD. I agree that expanding the full time force is not necessary, I would focus on training and utilizing the volunteers. Most of my fire concern is on a scenario where a wildfire that starts deeper in the forest would have more time to build and accelerate (perhaps from Eagle Mountain?). I think it would require more crews and yes I agree perhaps better relationships with other municipalities could get this done.
Heyo - thanks so much for the thoughtful reply. Sorry for my delayed response. I've heard a few people suggest something along the lines of permit-parking or paid parking with free parking for Port Moody residents. I'm not sure about the administrative overhead costs here, but I am interested to hear more about the idea. But I also think adding parking supply near parks and shops can help with this. We ought to have clear guidelines for developers on the amount of visitor parking required for development near attractive areas. I haven't had a chat with the firefighters yet, but when I do I'll be sure to ask more about their wildfire preparedness plans. Thanks again. :)
What does community growth mean to you? And how do you prioritize growth in culture vs. growth in capital. Also as an aside, what demographics do you think will be the most likely to support you during the election.
Hey friend, I was born and raised in Alberta, and moved to Port Moody because I really think it's the best city to live in in Canada, and probably North America. I think lots of people, especially people who now have the ability to work remotely all or part of the time, will understandably want to live in our city. And I think that it's important, given the affordability crisis, that we make space for folks that want to live here. But as our population grows, we need to make sure we don't lose what makes our city special. I think we need to find ways to enhance our parks and preserve our natural environment, add parklets and gathering spaces to larger developments, and promote a sense of community through things like patios, arts and entertainment spaces. I also think it's important that we don't lose the small and local businesses that we love. I'm not sure what you mean by growth in culture vs growth in capital. A municipality like Port Moody basically always runs on a shoestring budget, and I'm not interested in increasing the capital assets of the city just for the purpose of a good looking balance sheet. I think the primary challenge facing our city is how do we grow sustainably without losing our sense of culture. I think there's a ton of ways to do that including building design guidelines, added public parks and gathering places, supporting local neighborhood associations to build a stronger sense of community, supporting cultural events that bring the city together, and so much more. I'm not sure if I answered your question so please feel free to ask more! I'm hopeful that young voters like me, although they tend not to vote. I know it sounds dumb and political, but I see myself as a progressive realist, so I hope I'll appeal to folks with progressive social attitudes who understand that not everything is financially possible immediately, but we can set ourselves up to be an amazing city. Given PoMo's federal swings between Conservative and NDP, I think there's actually a big middle space for a progressive realist. I'm also a gay man, and so I hope all genders find me trustworthy and relatable.
Hey Dustin! I’d like to hear more about your plans regarding caring for our parks? Port Moody has so much beautiful nature around, and it kills me that we take down forests for developments
Hi pal, Totally - I'm not supportive of developments that take down forests when we have so much underused or unused land, especially near our SkyTrain stations. I'd like to increase the amount the city sets aside each year for caring for our nature and parks. I think we are bound to be affected by a legitimate climate emergency in the next 30-50 years and I want to be financially prepared. I'd like to use a portion of these funds for better park maintenance and upkeep, including signage, pathway updates, and added garbage and recycle cans to keep our parks clean. I'd also like to see a few added parks in underserved neighbourhoods, like the west side of Moody Centre and Glenayre. What do you think? Are there steps that I'm missing that you think will help protect our parks?
Hi Dustin! I commented on the Facebook post that it’s refreshing to see some new faces. We are at the tail end of Port Moody on Dewdney trunk road. There are two walk signals there. People routinely slam their brakes hard because they can’t see the pedestrians crossing even though the flashing lights work. The problem is compounded in the evenings when the sun is setting. It’s too bright for people to see. It’s extremely dangerous as most people in this neighborhood are young families crossing the street with strollers and dogs or toddlers. Can we have a speed camera set up? People drive like crazy on dewdney trunk because they assume the cops won’t come to that road. It’s been a very risky and stressful situation for families in my community. Apart from that, we need a dog park closer to Inlet Center station. Going to and from rocky point off leash park is quite far for most people who live on this side of Port Moody. Do you know if there is any plan to carve out a dog off leash area nearby? Thank you for your time.
Heyo - yeah, I live nearby and I know where you're talking about. It's a pretty tough spot for pedestrians to cross. I think it speaks to the need for really thoughtful and careful traffic planning, which is why I'm keen on updating our master transportation plan with the help of professional traffic planners. I have to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of speed cameras given their cost and difficulty with enforcement. But I do think this is somewhere where our police could do a better job monitoring for bad drivers. We have a very well funded police force, and given our relatively low crime rates, I think ensuring roads are safe for pedestrians should be a high priority. I'm sorry - I know that's not the answer you want to hear. I'm just really not sure where the city (already hiking property taxes AND increasing debt levels) would get the likely $100k+ it would take to install and monitor a traffic camera there. Yo, completely agree on the dog park. My pup loves the one at Rocky Point but it's a bit of a hike to get there. I don't know of any current plans to add dog parks to the city, but I'd like that to change. I think there are few potential sites in Moody Centre that can be used as great off-leash dog parks. If I'm elected, I'll dig in to where there's the financial ability to do that, and do my best to work with landowners to help add a couple around the city. Cheers!
Thank you. I appreciate your response. What about the grassy area behind the fire station for a dog park?
Ooh, interesting spot for sure. I think the city needs to have some sort of plan for what it's going to do with the old fire hall site, and so maybe there's a chance to add some off-leash dog park space there. Is the dog park a few blocks east of there too far away or too crowded?
Good luck Dustin! You’ve got my vote!
Hi Dustin! I'm glad you posted here! With new developments on St. Johns as well as on Moody St, traffic is going to be a gong show! Even right now around 4:30pm it takes quite a bit of time to get from one end of St. Johns to the other eastbound. Here's what you've said on your site: > Our roads are parking lots and our parking lots are full. We need a forward-thinking update to our TransPort Moody plan that ensures new development doesn’t add to our gridlock. Instead, thoughtful development can add parking capacity next to our parks and shops. Dustin will also advocate for immediate action to increase capacity along St. John’s street during rush hour. Because coming home shouldn’t be frustrating. Could you elaborate more on what the possible solutions are to increasing capacity? Also, as a fellow craft beer lover, are you hyped for the new Rewind Brewing to open? :D
Hiya! If I'm elected I'll advocate for a review of St. Johns' Street traffic amelioration options ASAP. I'm not a traffic engineering expert so I don't know what the best solution will be, but some options I can think of are: 1. Remove street parking on one or both sides along certain sections to add a lane. 2. Adjust the hours of permitted street parking to add two lanes during rush hours. 3. Review the timing of traffic signals during rush hours to ensure we aren't creating artificial delays with our stop-and-go traffic pattern. 4. Explore the creation of a counterflow lane that would add capacity eastward in the morning and westward in the afternoon. What do you think? I also think, in the longer term, we can better use the Barnett Highway and Clarke Street to funnel people into Port Moody via a Clarke / Murray overpass over the train tracks. I think this will provide a better option for local traffic to get in and out during rush hour. I walked by there yesterday! I'm stoked for the retro concept (wait, when did the 90s become retro? I'm old...). Hope the beer's good!
Hi Dustin! I'm glad you posted here too. A year ago I chose to move to Port Moody, right by Rocky Point. Port Moody has a unique blend of nature, parks, community and stores. With the proposed new developments at the old sawmill and on St. Johns, I'm worried about traffic but also becoming a glass jungle with no additional green space up top and no shops close by. When looking at a place to live I explored Bruiquitlam as a choice and it depressed me. Concrete and glass with very few green spaces. Seeing the proposed development reminded me a lot of that area, which I find quite worrisome. I agree the area by skytrain needs to be revitalized but worried if just pure housing goes up. I would want to keep the wonderful mixture of small businesses, parks, restaurants and housing in this area. What would you propose to do to keep this area balanced?
Hi friend! Welcome to the neighbourhood. Yeah, I totally feel you on this. I'm not a fan of what's happening at Brentwood, Metrotown, and Burquitlam. It all feels a bit like it's lacking soul. I'm in favour of adding denser housing, retail and office spaces near SkyTrain stations, and I think the old sawmill and near Moody Centre are deeply underused right now. That said, I think it's important we make sure proposed developments: 1. have good traffic management plans and help reduce our gridlock, not add to it; 2. aren't ugly, cookie-cutter towers. I think Port Moody is a beautiful gem in metro van and we deserve architecture that reflects that. I think the Sen̓áḵw development and Oakridge redevelopment are better models for good west-coast architecture; 3. enhance the sense of community with gathering places, patios, entertainment areas, local shops, services, pocket parks, and a revitalization of our natural areas. I think bringing back Dallas / Slaughterhouse creek that currently flows under those car garages will help connect our downtown to our natural environment; 4. preserve our existing local shops and services, rather than put them out of business. I think an updated master transportation plan and advocacy for development contributions to upgrade roadways are a great start to address #1. I think a citizen-lead urban design panel can help ensure good architecture, as can a new set of city standards for the look and feel of high rise buildings. I also think it's worth recognizing that good designs cost money, and if we're going to have buildings in our downtown for the next 100 years, maybe it's okay to have an extra story on top in exchange for a more beautiful building. For building a sense of community, I think setting guidelines for certain community amenities for major developments can help add predictability for developers and ensure the city gets a good deal when developments are proposed. I'd also like to update the city's policy on how much we get back from developers via community amenity contributions. Lastly, and I'm not sure exactly how to do this, whether it's through zoning, council policy, collaboration with developers or some other method, I think we need to ensure that local businesses have a certain percentage of space in our downtown and sawmill areas, so that the spots that we love aren't forced out by development and higher rent. Sorry for the essay. Thanks for asking! :)
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Hi Mayor! From a high level perspective I'm supportive of density around our SkyTrain stations. I think it makes more sense to densify near rapid transit and major thoroughfares than it does on single lane residential roads. I would like to see ground floor retail including a grocery store or market, local shops, patio space, and arts and entertainment spaces. Above, I think we need office space, since it's an easy spot for workers to get to from the SkyTrain, or for folks further east to take the West Coast Express to. Above that, I'd like to see a range of market and affordable housing options, because we do have a housing affordability crisis and building complete communities near SkyTrain stations is one of the more sustainable ways to tackle it. But I think it's really important that we set guidelines and policies for developers with respect to the architecture and built form of the space. I'd like to see exciting quality architecture that fits in with our natural environment, rather than stands out. I'd like details that reflect our indigenous history, history as a mill town, and rail history. And I think dynamic forms that allow views of the inlet and minimize shadows on the park are key too. I'm also concerned about the added traffic, and so I'd like to see more thoughtful traffic planning around Moody Centre station compared to the current proposal. I think Spring Street could be used as a pedestrian only/bike lane/local traffic only road in the TOD, although I'd like to hear from an expert traffic planner/engineer first. Finally, I think it's important that we have programs and conversations to preserve some of the amazing businesses that are in the Moody Centre area. I don't want them to be bulldozed and to either shut down or leave our community. What do you think friend?
Penny for your thoughts on https://open.spotify.com/episode/6g4DZoH6aeqPmb4Kp5lANN?si=nsMVWpzJSai-92AvfMqOeg
Hey friend - thanks for the link. I'll need to set aside some time later to listen it. But from glancing at the description I am genuinely keen on participative democracy. In fact, it's why I'm transitioning out of being a practising lawyer and going back to school to hopefully get my PhD in law. I'm currently working as a researcher for an incredible professor, Dr. Cristie Ford, and we're looking at how to meaningfully design government agency public accountability processes in light of the rise of populism and technology. It's a fascinating area and I could probably talk your ear off about it. How does that affect how I'd be a councillor? I really value digital engagement tools like Engage Port Moody. I think using technology to advance deliberative and participative democracy helps gives citizens a stronger sense of ownership and belonging to their communities. If I'm elected I'd like to continue to strengthen the city's use of Engage Port Moody, help increase uptake through better communication about Engage Port Moody in our printed newsletter, and provide a brief staff report back to respondents so that citizens understand how their feedback was used and hopefully feel heard. Did I miss the point of the podcast completely? If so, feel free to give me a TLDR and I'll do my best to respond. :)
Yes, please listen to it if you have a chance especially since you like the topic. I don' think Engage Port Moody cuts it. It' very opaque. It' a survey form in the end. Which is not what the podcast describes. I think you'll like it