The MOT lands in Maple Ridge will be developed for 350 homes in a subdivision with parks and commercial amenities.

Maple Ridge began to process a new “master plan” residential neighbourhood that will come complete with houses, townhomes, parks, trails and corner stores.

An area of land once set aside by the province to build a bridge over the Fraser River is now the site of the proposed 350-home development by Morningstar and Polygon homes.

With the Golden Ears Bridge crossing in Hammond, the Ministry of Transportation will sell land it owned on both the north and south sides of the Lougheed Highway, located near the east end of the Haney Bypass and Thomas Haney secondary (23000 block of Lougheed Highway, and 11300 block of 232 Street.)

The proposed development will see 89 single family residences and 262 townhouse units, a one-acre park, conservation areas, and about 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

Staff recommended council make site-specific zoning amendments to allow liquor primary establishments, coffee shops, professional services, such as barbers, financial services, daycares, retail sales.

“We tried to enliven it with some flexible uses there,” explained Chuck Goddard, city manager of development.

Above the commercial space will be another 24 rental apartments, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms.

There is 20 acres of riparian zone in the land, which will not be developed. It will include an on-site trail system, which will link to existing trails, including those along the Fraser River.

“We’re really providing a diverse range of housing, so it will meet many different needs,” said Maginnis Cocivera, vice-president of Polygon Homes.

He said the development is transit oriented, walkable, includes a trail network, has density and is close to the urban core.

The developer is offering an amenity contribution of $2.5 million, which is $1 million more than required in the city’s per-unit community amenity contribution policy.

“The Polygon development is very exciting,” said acting mayor Tyler Shymkiw. “Of course, we still need to listen to the public on this development as it progresses, but as a large, master-planned development this has the potential to be really awesome for our community.”

He said the new connection from 232 St. to Lougheed Hwy. through the new subdivision will help traffic flow in that entire area, as the connection currently is problematic.

“The scale of the contribution to the community in terms of walkability, trail connection, and amenity contribution is huge, and when you combine this with the synergy of our Telosky field project, I think this is a very exciting development for the area,” Shymkiw added.

This project was at the council table in 2015, and the developer came back with a project that is less dense by 100 units, and added a one-acre park in the townhome development.

“I think they have done a really good job of responding to the public hearing, and to what council was saying,” said Coun. Bob Masse. “It’s a nice project.”

The developers hope to begin the project in approximately six months, and it will take about two years to build.

Council gave the bylaws first and second reading on May 23, and it will now move to a public hearing.