The Golden Ears Business Park (GEBP) is located in Pitt Meadows, west of the Golden Ears Bridge and east of the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. Consisting of four project phases, the business park encompasses 76.5 hectares (189 acres) of land and is zoned as light industrial and includes retail, office and warehouse spaces.
Project History
Construction for Phase 1 is complete and Phase 2 is nearing completion. The bylaws to rezone phases 3 and 4 to light industrial business park were adopted by Council on May 22, 2018. Construction on Phase 3 and Phase 4 including trails, berms and landscaping is expected in the fall of 2020.
More information regarding phases 3 and 4 is available below.
Project Benefits
The Golden Ears Business Park offers many improvements to Pitt Meadows such as:
- Providing additional tax revenues, phases 3 & 4 are estimated at $1.6 million per year (in addition to phases 1 and 2 revenues of $2.3 million);
- Considerable road improvements, including the expansion of Airport Way to four lanes, fully signalized intersections at Harris Road and Bonson Road, and a signalized mid-block pedestrian crossing along Airport Way between Harris Road and Bonson Road;
- Enhancing local employment opportunities;
- The eight-acre land amenity contribution provided by Onni and owned by the City, will additional space for municipal services;
- 5.6 acres of land for buffers and berms owned by the developer will provide sight and sound mitigation as well as pathways for public use;
- Construction and maintenance costs for the buffers and berms will be borne by the developer; and
- A $1.5 million amenity contribution.
$1.5 million Amenity Contribution for Structural Fill
Council has approved a permit for Onni to deposit 500,000 cubic metres of structural fill into the Golden Ears Business Park (GEBP) Phase 4 site. Onni has provided $1.5 million to the City as an amenity contribution.
Filling the site is necessary to raise current grades above the floodplain construction level. Structural fill was also used in GEBP phases 1, 2 and 3. Not only is structural fill industry standard, there are clear protocols in place to address environmental concerns such as the ability to trace the source of the fill. Structural fill provides a less intrusive option than the use of dredged sand.
The dredging of sand would require the installation of a pipe under/over Fraser Way which would cause problems with the City’s infrastructure and create capacity issues with the drainage network. Had dredging been used, it still may have necessitated sand to be transported by truck to the site and require sweeping and clean-up of the roadway. Surrounding neighbourhoods would experience a significant increase in noise levels with a 24/7 operation that occurs with dredging.
An independent qualified environmental professional hired by the City and paid for by Onni will monitor environmental aspects and ensure that erosion and sediment control measures are properly implemented.
Land Amenity Contribution
As part of the development of the Golden Ears Business Park phases 3 and 4, Onni has provided a significant amenity contribution to the City, consisting of 13 acres of green space in South Bonson. This includes eight acres of land amenity with an estimated value of $22.5 million and 5.6 acres of an enhanced trail network.
Eight acres of the amenity contribution land will be owned by the City. The remaining 5.6 acres, allocated for buffers and berms, has been secured through a statutory right of way that gives the public exclusive use while owned/maintained by Onni. This means that Onni is responsible for the cost of installing and maintaining the buffers and berms. This land will enable the City to develop additional park, recreation and field space that will connect to existing sports fields.
A four metre wide pathway will be included within the buffers and will facilitate community connectivity, which will be used by walkers, joggers, and cyclists, and encourage active transportation.
Next Steps
Opportunities for Community Feedback
Prior to the start of construction for phases 3 and 4, Council will host an Engagement and Priorities Committee meeting to proactively engage on building design, construction impacts, neighbourhood livability, landscaping and berms. This meeting is anticipated to be hosted later this year. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more information.
High Standard of Design
Onni has applied for development permits which will be considered and approved by Council. The development will be guided over time by development permit guidelines to control the form and character of the development. Development permit guidelines may be found in the City’s Official Community Plan.
In April 2019, Council adopted new form and character development permit guidelines for the project. These guidelines encourage a high standard of industrial development that is cohesive and integrated into the surrounding community.
Current Activities
The Soil Permit for Phase 3 is coming to a close and is expected to be completed by summer 2020.
On December 10, 2019, a Soil permit for Phase 4 was approved by Council. Filling activities are underway.
Residents can expect to see dump trucks hauling fill to Phase 4 along Airport Way and Harris Road (south of Airport Way) Monday to Saturday. No fill activities are permitted on Sundays or statutory holidays.
- Cover Report - For McElhanney April 2016 Apr 27, 2016
- Council Report - South Bonson Traffic Study May 4, 2016
- Traffic Area Recommendation from McElhanney's Sept 2016 Report (October 2016)
- South Bonson Traffic Study (April 2016)
- Traffic Study Addendum (September 2016)
- IBI Design Guidelines (October 2016)
- GP Rollo Report - Commercial & Development Analysis (February 2013)
- Phase 4 Technical report Geotechnical Report (June 2015)
Phase 4 Soil Permit
Trucks hauling fill to GEBP Phase 4 will access the site off of Harris Road via Airport Way, which poses the least impact to residents, traffic and the environment.
Access from Airport Way was permitted for Phase 3 due to the staging area created on the shoulder. Trucks entering the Phase 3 site can make a relatively simple right-hand turn into the site (as opposed to a left-hand turn into the site at Phase 4).
Airport Way is a busy arterial road with higher volumes of traffic compared to Harris Road, south of Airport Way – especially during morning and afternoon peak times. It is important that traffic continues to flow efficiently to maintain safety. Access off Harris Road is the safer option with less traffic. Flaggers will be required to ensure safe access and egress from the site at all times.
In addition, access from the existing crossing off Harris Road will have a reduced environmental impact. There is no current crossing into Phase 4 off of Airport Way without the installation of a crossing/culvert that would negatively impact the Katzie Slough.
Another reason for allowing access off Airport Way for the Sutton development was because the only other option for an access point would be off a residential road, Sutton Avenue. This is directly beside a residential neighbourhood. Harris Road is further away from the residential area and considered to have less of an impact on residents and users of the area.
Onni must comply with the Traffic Management Plan and roadways must be kept clean. Staff will monitor the activities closely to ensure compliance and safe practices. Modifications will be made, if needed.
Filling the site is necessary to raise current grades above the floodplain to construction level.
Structural fill provides a less intrusive option to the surrounding neighbourhoods and less of an impact on the City’s infrastructure than the use of dredged sand. Structural fill was also used in GEBP phases 1, 2 and 3.
Structural fill is industry standard. There are clear protocols in place to address environmental concerns such as the ability to trace the source of the fill.
Dredging would require the installation of a pipe under or over Fraser Way. This would result in a 24 hour/day seven day per week of activity and increased noise levels to surrounding neighbourhoods. Dredging sand would likely still require sand to be transported by truck to the site and require sweeping and clean-up of the roadway.
The dredging of sand also introduces additional water to the site that would negatively impact the City’s drainage network.
An independent qualified environmental professional hired by the City and paid for by Onni will monitor environmental aspects and ensure that erosion and sediment control measures are properly implemented.
City staff will monitor the site and filling activities closely to ensure compliance is being met.
Onni must comply with a Traffic Management Plan that minimizes disruption to vehicle, pedestrian/cyclists traffic, mitigates impact to neighbouring properties and addresses any safety concerns which may arise as a result of construction traffic. City staff will monitor activities closely to ensure compliance is being met.
Airport Way will be expanded into four lanes and two fully signalized intersections including a signalized pedestrian crossing along Airport Way will be added and paid for by Onni. This work will occur at the conclusion of soil hauling activities and after 50 percent of construction on Phase 4 is complete.
The City has set aside $4.7 million, separate from residential tax revenue that will contribute to the development costs. How the new amenity lands will be used will be carefully considered in the City’s planning processes which will include significant public engagement.
The land was valued at $40-45 per square foot of serviced land by an independent appraiser in May 2018. The total area is 13 acres; therefore, the total amenity contribution land value is estimated at $22.7 to $25.6 million. Eight acres of the amenity contribution land will be owned by the City, and the remaining five acres includes buffers and berms as a statutory right of way.