for school space: mayor

minimum 20 per cent inclusionary housing, with the specific number and affordability levels, subject to discussion with senior government and housing operators He said the proposed application provides 10 per cent afford-

Able

housing Coun. Ruby Campbell said the city needs to meet the inclusionary housing policy.

“So, it’s not like a ‘like’ we need to,” she said “We need housing for all ” Matthew McClenaghan, senior vice president of development at Edgar Development, said the 20 per cent goal can be challenging for private developers to provide on their own. He said it’s something that requires support from the municipality and the province

McClenaghan said the company wants to continue to the dialogue with the city about the housing component of the development.

Coun.Tasha Henderson said she’s not interested in seeing 3,000 one-bedroom, million-dollar condos built on the site, as that doesn’t help the city meet its housing needs or targets.

“I think people have to bend and shift when that market shifts.We’re in the middle of an absolute housing crisis So if profit margins are a little less giant than before … I’m not losing sleep,” she said “So I do want to see a development that works for our community.”

School Needs

On Monday, council directed staff to work with the applicant to complete discussions with the New Westminster school district regarding the need for a school site in the area

The development would bring an estimated 280 to 530 school-aged children.

McClenaghan said the company is in communication with the school board

“We are open to having that dialogue continuing to see what opportunities there are for the school,” he told council. “So again, early days, but it’s a yes We are open to that dialogue ”

Mayor Patrick Johnstone said there will be there will be thousands of people moving to NewWestminster in the next 20 years. He noted that the province is also telling the city it needs to accommodate people who are moving into the region

“We have a responsibility to make sure that we’re building housing for when people move into this region. So I think those are the triggers for the need for a new school I don’t want people to walk away with the impression that because these buildings are being built, there must be a school to accommodate the people who are living in these buildings,” he said “School sites are needed in the community, and this is an opportunity. Downtown is an area where we are really pressured We need school sites.”

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