New Westminster and Larco Investments have come up with a new master plan for developing its waterfront site.

It’s been nearly two decades since discussion on what to do with the Larco land located between the Fraser River Discovery Centre and Westminster Pier Park currently being used for parking. Previous plans called for five towers, with above-grade parking, but with nothing happening on it, the city went to Larco looking for more dynamic plans that could improve the connection between the waterfront and the Downtown, have better sightlines and still be economically viable for Larco.

The latest master plan revealed in a report to city council Monday calls for more open space, three towers instead of five to maintain sightlines, a dedicated park site of two acres, an extended waterfront esplanade, and a hotel.

It’s expected work could begin on amending the zoning in early 2014.

The plans call for three tall, slender towers on the western portion of the site with about 800 residential units. Townhouses would be incorporated into the base of the third tower while retail would be in the other two.

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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.

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