Pitt Meadows taxpayers are willing to shell out a little extra money for more recreation facilities in the city, including an indoor pool.
Although the appetite for additional facilities and programs has decreased since 2008, a parks and recreation survey conducted in May found that 24 per cent of people polled still want more services.
A quarter of them want a new indoor swimming pool, and 70 per cent would pay additional taxes for it.
Another 27 per cent are willing to pay up to $20 or more than $40 a year, while a larger portion – 37 per cent – would between $20 and $40 per year.
Usage of parks, recreation facilities or recreation programs has remained steady or slightly increased since the last survey.
Households using recreation facilities have increased to 88 per cent from 85 per cent in 2008.
Residents are also satisfied with the quality and range of parks and recreation facilities, with 83 per cent of those surveyed rating the services as “very good.”
Sister city
The City of Pitt Meadows now has a sibling in Korea.
Council directed the mayor to sign a certificate Tuesday, officially recognizing Gapyeung-gun as a sister city.
Located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, Gapyeong was the scene of the Battle of Kapyong, a major clash during the Korean War.
The Korea Veterans Association pitched the idea to council in November to recognize the contribution of Canadian Armed Forces during the Korean war.
Gapyeong already has two sister cities – Gangnam-gu, South Korea and Cedar City, Utah.
It will be the first time Pitt Meadows has twinned with another city.
Eight municipalities in Metro Vancouver do not have a sister or twinning relationship with another city.
The others include Delta, North Vancouver, Anmore, Bowen Island, Langley City, Lions Bay, Port Coquitlam, and West Vancouver.
New Westminster and Vancouver have the most sister cities, at five each.
Property rezoned
A rezoning application that will see another mixed-use development go up along Harris Road in Pitt Meadows got third reading at city council on Tuesday.
The property at 12409 Harris Road will be rezoned to CD-30 to permit the construction of a four-storey apartment building with 42 residential units, and approximately 2,000 square feet of ground level commercial space.
The city initially received a rezoning application for the property in February 2009 after the original Chives Restaurant property was merged with an unused portion of Telus property.
Since that time, city staff has been working with the applicant to come up with an attractive building design that would provide residential density, commercial space and sufficient parking – all on a relatively narrow lot.
Phase Two
The second phase of the Cedar Downs development in Pitt Meadows has been given the green light.