[Burnaby] Concord Brentwood | U/C and Proposed

[madog222]

Redtruck, please leave the quote tags intact.

[Burquitlaman]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Those cities are not really comparable to Vancouver. A large part of the reason why Vancouver feels so crowded is because of the geography. Obviously, no one is going to agree with me on this forum, but I’ve talked to a lot of people about this, and many are starting to realize this issue. Vancouver is landlocked, and all traffic flows into it. North Vancouver is a perfect example of this. On the weekends, everyone goes into North Vancouver to visit the mountains, hiking trails, rivers, and ferry terminals. Every weekend, traffic is a mess. I cannot imagine what this will be like with another million people living here.

I'm genuinely confused. Take away Robson street on a Friday and the rest of the metro region is dead. Which part of this city is crowded?

Vancouver being landlocked means nothing when the whole city is sea of emptiness.

[Redtruck]

Well, like I said, North Vancouver is already a nightmare, and to name a few more, schools, hospitals, ski hills, public parks, hiking trails, roads already have congestion issues. Besides the one new park in Brentwood, what other land has been set aside for new parkland in Burnaby or Vancouver? As I already mentioned, right now we are living in a good time where it is not yet overcrowded, but in 20-50 years, your view might change. This is why I think there needs to be some push back on giving developers too much power in further increasing density on top of what was originally planned.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Well, like I said, North Vancouver is already a nightmare, and to name a few more, schools, hospitals, ski hills, public parks, hiking trails, roads already have congestion issues. Besides the one new park in Brentwood, what other land has been set aside for new parkland in Burnaby or Vancouver? As I already mentioned, right now we are living in a good time where it is not yet overcrowded, but in 20-50 years, your view might change. This is why I think there needs to be some push back on giving developers too much power in further increasing density on top of what was originally planned.

There are many new parks being developed in Vancouver. There's a new park at South-east False Creek about to be developed. There's a local park replacing a parking lot on Main Street in Mount Pleasant. There's Creekside Park, to be developed as part of North East Park. The roof of the redeveloped Oakridge Mall will be a public park. There are new parks as part of the major developments at Fraser Riverside, the Oak Street Transit Centre, the Jericho Lands, etc etc.

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Well, like I said, North Vancouver is already a nightmare, and to name a few more, schools, hospitals, ski hills, public parks, hiking trails, roads already have congestion issues. Besides the one new park in Brentwood, what other land has been set aside for new parkland in Burnaby or Vancouver?

If you read through Burnaby's neighbourhood plans they have maps where they show where they want to expand Parks or ever add new ones.

[Redtruck]

Still not a lot of parkland being added for 1000 x condo towers... If you guys want a good example of what Vancouver will be like once all these projected developments are built out just go to Metrotown on a weekend.

[Burquitlaman]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Still not a lot of parkland being added for 1000 x condo towers... If you guys want a good example of what Vancouver will be like once all these projected developments are built out just go to Metrotown on a weekend.

I dream about a day where all of Vancouver looks like Metrotown. Metrotown still has a ton of work to do.

[Redtruck]

So you like crowds, lines ups, and breathing other peoples farts? I guess we have a different view what quality of life means to each their own.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

So you like crowds, lines ups, and breathing other peoples farts? I guess we have a different view what quality of life means to each their own.

As someone in the area who heads over to Metrotown sometimes, what on earth are you talking about? I'm not sure if I've ever seen a crowd in the Metrotown area, unless you're specifically talking about inside the mall. Not sure how that relates to parkland if that's the case.

[Redtruck]

Yes, I am talking about the mall. Go inside the mall on a weekend and see for yourself, or go to North Vancouver and be stuck in traffic for 2 hours.

[chowhou]

So you think Brentwood, a neighbourhood with probably a third of Metrotown's population, is going to be as busy as the inside of one of the busiest malls in Canada... outside? When even Metrotown itself doesn't even get close to that busy outside?

Quite frankly, in my experience the streets of Hong Kong don't even get as busy as the inside of Metrotown Mall...

[Spr0ckets]

Hold the Press Everyone!!!

Apparently Malls are crowded on weekends*.......when most people are free to go do their shopping.......chores.........and to milll about..........and stuff......

Who knew?

This is shocking stuff!!!

/s

(*.....and mostly empty and not as crowded on every other day of the week)



If the weekend is the only time you tend to go to a place like Metrotown or to the mall, is it any wonder that you believe Vancouver (Metro area) is crowded or in danger of being so.

[seamusmcduff]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Yes, I am talking about the mall. Go inside the mall on a weekend and see for yourself, or go to North Vancouver and be stuck in traffic for 2 hours.

In that case, Edmonton is far to crowded and they need to stop densifying. I mean, have you been to West Edmonton Mall?? So many people!

The number of people in a mall seems to be an odd way to define density. It speaks more to a lack of commercial space than it does to the amount of people.

[Redtruck]

I am using it as an example of what the future in Vancouver will look like with the current trend of development. Smart people realize this, others, get giggly seeing developers fill their pockets.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

I am using it as an example of what the future in Vancouver will look like with the current trend of development. Smart people realize this, others, get giggly seeing developers fill their pockets.

What a fine display of the Dunning-Kruger effect

[Redtruck]

Okay there Mr. giggly. The last thing I’ll say on this is that the population increase in Metro Vancouver is happening too fast and is not sustainable over the long term. I am not against development, but I am not a fan of the new provincial legislation that gives developers free rein to further increase density, especially in areas like Brentwood and Metrotown, where there are already many development projects in the pipeline that will increase density enough. All I am saying is we need to keep development in check so we can balance livability and density.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

All I am saying is we need to keep development in check so we can balance livability and density.

If you ask me, there's a certain level of density that's required before livability even starts. Growing up in a low density suburb in North Vancouver meant anything worth living for was at least a 10 minute drive away. Call it peaceful if you like, but that's a lot less livable than having your needs and wants in close proximity to you.

Brentwood is near the lower end of that density.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Redtruck

Okay there Mr. giggly. The last thing I’ll say on this is that the population increase in Metro Vancouver is happening too fast and is not sustainable over the long term. I am not against development, but I am not a fan of the new provincial legislation that gives developers free rein to further increase density, especially in areas like Brentwood and Metrotown, where there are already many development projects in the pipeline that will increase density enough. All I am saying is we need to keep development in check so we can balance livability and density.

I'm pretty sure the provincial legislation doesn't affect Metrotown at all, Burnaby's existing plans already allow more density than the provincial legislation requires. The densities you're seeing being built in Brentwood are also from Burnaby's current plan, which similarly allows far greater density than the provincial legislation requires.

The exception is that a small area of Brentwood is within 800m of the transit station, but wasn't zoned by Burnaby for any greater density. That will have to be revisited, but the provincial legislation doesn't require especially high densities, or tall buildings in that area, just more than the existing housing. Obviously Burnaby Council could choose to allow more density, but that wouldn't be as a result of the provincial legislation.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I'm pretty sure the provincial legislation doesn't affect Metrotown at all, Burnaby's existing plans already allow more density than the provincial legislation requires. The densities you're seeing being built in Brentwood are also from Burnaby's current plan, which similarly allows far greater density than the provincial legislation requires.

The exception is that a small area of Brentwood is within 800m of the transit station, but wasn't zoned by Burnaby for any greater density. That will have to be revisited, but the provincial legislation doesn't require especially high densities, or tall buildings in that area, just more than the existing housing. Obviously Burnaby Council could choose to allow more density, but that wouldn't be as a result of the provincial legislation.

Metrotown is certainly touched by the provincial TOD legislation, and to a similar extent to Brentwood. Brentwood residents are just squeakier wheels.

Metrotown:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housin...naby_metrotown_station_toa_map_day_1.pdf

Brentwood for comparison:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housin...od_town_centre_station_toa_map_day_1.pdf

Metrotown will also be affected by the TOD legislation around Patterson, but Brentwood also will be affected by the TOD legislation around Gilmore so it's a bit of a wash. (And Holdom and Royal Oak, but they're a bit on the fringe of Brentwood and Metrotown respectively.)

[Redtruck]

It depends on your lifestyle or what you value in life on how much you see the effects of population increase. I feel the city Burnaby was already doing a good job in densifying around SkyTrain’s stations and the 800 meters is a huge increase from the original Brentwood Town center plans. For example, The amazing Brentwood is being affected directly from these changes. From what I see, the indoor mall will no longer be redeveloped but replaced with an 80-storey condo tower.