There was standing room only at Inlet Theatre Wednesday as more than 300 people flooded Port Moody council chambers to throw bouquets and brickbats to council for the city’s draft official community plan.
Dozens called for the preservation of the ocean waterfront instead of towers while others lauded higher density proposed along the Evergreen Line route. Several people suggested the city purchase the Mill and Timber site — currently an operating mill with about 80 employees — and use it for park space.
“We will lose what we value most, namely the small-town feel, charm and ambiance,” said Reiner Specht, who has formed an ad-hoc group called Port Moody Citizens’ Coalition to oppose the OCP changes. “A lot of people don’t want skyscrapers,” said Ron Simpson. “Let’s see growth on a human scale.”
Rod MacVicar, the city’s 2012 environment award winner for his work promoting marine research on the inlet, said the city could get a good deal if it bought the Mill and Timber property. “We are losing an opportunity to pick up this site and do something with it,” he said.
Others said the city will benefit from higher density because it would preserve greenspace while adding more services close to people’s homes.
