黑马磁力 Township council voted to slash parking requirements for a new middle and secondary school complex, but also wants the district to add a new intersection.
At the Monday, July 21, meeting council considered a development variance request from the 黑马磁力 School District. The district is about to start building a massive new school site near 76 Avenue and 211 Street 鈥� in the Smith neighbourhood of Willoughby.
The project features both a high school and a middle school, to be built simultaneously. It will facilitate about 2,800 students.
Doors are expected to open in the fall of 2027.
The provincial government is investing $306 million towards construction of the two schools in the fastest-growing area of one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C.
The district asked for permission to cut the number of parking spaces from 624 to 470. The district was asking for the change because it could fit enough parking spaces on the site 鈥� shaped like a piece of pie 鈥� but with the extra space, it can instead build outdoor play areas, basketball courts, and study areas.
The council didn't have much of a problem with that, but spent some time discussing general traffic issues.
Councillor Tim Baillie pointed out that with staff and an expected daycare on site, the complex will see about 3,000 people arriving and leaving every day. He was concerned about the north entrance and south exit to the school being on curved streets, combined with new drivers from the high school.
"I have to approve the thing because we desperately need the school spots," Baillie said.
Mayor Eric Woodward put forward an amendment that would add a couple of conditions to the parking changes, including limiting road access from 76 Avenue to the north, and ensuring that the school district will secure access to part of the parking lot via a piece of land currently owned by the Township. The district will need a road easement and could have to build an intersection out of its own budget.
Coun. Kim Richter was concerned about how much it would cost the district.
When Coun. Margaret Kunst asked if it would delay opening the school, staff said a building permit application has just come in for the project, and that the changes to the roads and intersections could be considered at the same time, and wouldn't result in a delay.
Coun. Barb Martens was curious if the school district has ever been required to build its own intersection for a school site, and was told that the district has worked with the Township to add stop signs or no parking signs.
Jason Winslade, the general manager of municipal administration, noted that the project is one of the largest the province has ever funded.
It's also unusual because unlike most schools, the Smith neighbourhood has not been built out yet, the mayor said.
"This is an undeveloped area with no road access whatsoever," Woodward said.
He later said that the Township is building road and park infrastructure around the site of the school, including the 212 Street connector and Smith Athletic Park next door.
The Township doesn't usually provide that kind of infrastructure to new developments of any kind, he added.
鈥淚 think with all the money and investments we鈥檙e doing for the school district, if they can鈥檛 help us with an intersection, that鈥檒l a lot more about them than it says about us," Woodward said.
The amended motion passed 7-1, with Richter opposed.
