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City staff is proposing changes to Bayview and Chatham streets, including the introduction of permanent bike lanes.

Photo by Hannah Scott

More changes afoot in Steveston

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 11:05 PDT, Mon June 7, 2021

Last Updated: 11:10 PDT, Mon June 7, 2021

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Streetscapes in Steveston Village may soon look different, following a staff recommendation that would see changes to Bayview and Chatham streets to introduce permanent bike lanes.

Seventeen parking spaces would be removed on Bayview in order to implement dedicated bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Chatham would also receive bike paths and more space for pedestrians, with on-street parking retained. Moncton would remain unchanged. The projected cost is around $10 million.

Staff is also recommending a new Steveston design committee—in response to a request from the planning committee earlier this year—as well as enhancements to the development application review process. The committee would review and comment on relevant development applications and design-related initiatives in Steveston Village.

Staff propose that the committee consist of three voting members appointed for a two-year term, including several with architectural and heritage conservation planning experience. If approved, staff would report back to council after two years on the effectiveness of the new process and committee.

New RCMP superintendent

Richmond RCMP is welcoming a new member to its leadership team.

Supt. Julie Drotar has over 28 years of RCMP experience and has worked in such areas as federal proceeds of crime and criminal intelligence. She is expected to join the Richmond detachment in the next couple of months.

Richmond Chief Supt. Will Ng said the local force has grown by 74 officers in the past five years, requiring additional managers.

Business growth

The city issued 352 new business licenses, representing 1,674 jobs, in the first quarter of 2021. A staff report submitted to the finance committee prior to this week’s meeting notes that number is a decrease of 15.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. Overall in 2020, the number of new business licenses issued decreased by 31.4 per cent, so the new activity in the first quarter of this year “shows signs of improvement,” according to the report.

Airport plans update

Vancouver International Airport staff have proposed amendments to their master plan and are inviting the city to comment before the proposal is submitted to Transport Canada for approval. In a report presented to this week’s planning committee, city staff recommended several changes, including refining the proposed commercial land use designation along the south end of Sea Island so that retail space would make up only a small proportion of the total developable area, and that any retail would be limited to uses primarily serving local businesses and employees.

Brew pub hopes to expand

Monkey 9 Brew Pub, which is located in the complex that includes Watermania and SilverCity Riverport, is applying to expand its liquor license capacity to include the bowlers’ sitting area at the adjacent Lucky 9 Lanes Bowling Centre. A report submitted to the city’s general purposes committee notes that there is access to Monkey 9 from two points inside the bowling centre. The new capacity would allow 460 people as opposed to the 200 currently permitted. An additional application would enable unaccompanied minors to sit in the bowlers’ sitting area.

Advocating for hospital

Richmond city councillors plan to advocate for a revised timeline on the new acute care tower planned for the city’s hospital.

The motion will see council writing a letter to the premier, health minister and finance minister to ask for an update on the business plan, confirmation of funding, and timeline for construction. The letter will also be sent to Richmond MLAs, the Vancouver Coastal Health board, and the Richmond Hospital Foundation. Council will also invite Richmond MLAs to a future meeting to discuss funding and timeline for the upgrade.