Burnaby residents who enjoy a lovely stroll along the Fraser River will be getting access to a new observation lookout that will be built by a local developer.
Burnaby director of planning and building Ed Kozak detailed the plans in a report to council. In the report, it says Oxford Properties will be building an “amenity pier” that will connect to the Fraser Foreshore Park that includes a long east-west trail.
But the city must first apply for permission and permits from the Province of B.C. – something the developer can’t do, Kozak said.
Oxford will pay the entire cost of building the pier and will be responsible for taking care of maintenance in the years to come.
“This is a good news story,” said Mayor Mike Hurley.
In 2016, Council granted final adoption of a multi-phased Conceptual Master Plan and design guidelines, for the Riverbend Business Park owned by Oxford and located at 8211, 8220, 8340 and 8351 Fraser Reach Court.
“The Conceptual Plan included a detailed Public Open Space concept that centres around the site's adjacency to the Fraser River, with the goal of providing numerous points of access to the foreshore and an amenity pier on the Fraser River,” reads a city staff report. One of the requirements of the Riverbend Business Park Master Plan … was the construction and operation of an amenity pier in the Fraser River to connect to and complement the riverfront trail, which is linked to the broader Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park. The water lot in which the identified amenity pier is to be located is owned by the Province, and as such, the approval of a Crown Land Tenure Lease by the Province is required in order to construct, operate and maintain the amenity pier.”
