Anshu Arora LLM, MSc, PMP

During a public meeting on Monday, Surrey City Council approved the measure of permitting city staff to proceed with the process of obtaining a loan of $150.6 million to fund three new major community and recreational facilities.

The long-term borrowing scheme will fully cover the construction costs of the new replacement $90-million Newton Community Centre, including the land acquisition, as well as the full costs of the $40-million City Centre Sports Complex.

Another $20.6 million will be borrowed to help cover the $50.1-million Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex, with the remaining $29.5 million funded through pay-as-you-go city financing.

These capital projects were previously approved by city council in November 2020 as part of the 2021 five-year capital plan, which will help address growing pressures for new recreational facilities as a result of Surrey’s continued strong population growth.

In October 2020, city council approved the acquisition of 16 contiguous parcels at 6965-7005 King George Boulevard and 13511-13570 70A Avenue, forming a 7.2-acre parcel for Newton Community Centre, a new public park, and other civic uses. These parcels include the current Rona store and a number of vacant properties.

Design work on the new Newton facility, including a replacement rink for the nearby Newton Ice Arena, will begin in early 2021, and construction is targeted to begin in late 2021 for a completion in 2023.

Further north up the King George Boulevard Corridor, the City Centre Sports Complex is envisioned to be a major expansion of the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre at 13458 107A Avenue. Much of the city-owned property is currently used as surface parking, which opens up the opportunity for an expansion without land acquisition.

When complete, it would add to the area’s recreational precinct already established by the adjacent Whalley Athletic Park and BC Lions training centre.

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Port Coquitlam is giving a break to local property owners wishing to get more out of their expensive land by building coach houses.

Mayor Brad West said he hoped giving staff rather than council the job of approving these buildings would “send a message” that these tiny houses are a permitted use when built according to city rules.

“I have a lot of trust in our staff to deal with the issues that come up — which inevitably do come up between neighbours — [to ensure they] are addressed appropriately,” West said.

Although not inexpensive to build because they require the same costly bathroom, kitchen and heating, water and ventilation as main houses (and fewer cheaper bedrooms), coach houses have appeal for single family property owners seeking to get more use of their land, either by renting out the space or using them as living quarters for extended family members.

Port Coquitlam, which has approved 14 development permits, with 10 already built and another 10 under review, has permitted them in eligible single family lots through a streamlined Development Permit process.

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