Riverview OH 5 report Final - 2016-06-06 · Riverview Lands Public Consultation Summary Report – June 2016 !! Page 4 of 27! ! ! principles,and!thecontext!and!historyof!the!property.!Feedback!from!the!firstopen!house!indicated!

PUBLIC CONSULTATION SUMMARY REPORT Riverview Lands Vision Process

1. Online Engagement: December 17, 2015 to February 12, 2016 2. Official Advisory Group Feedback 3. Additional Feedback from Organizations 4. City of Coquitlam Input and Next Steps

Prepared by: Brook Pooni Associates June 2016

Riverview Lands Public Consultation Summary Report – June 2016 Page 2 of 27

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 SUMMARY REPORT – VISION DOCUMENT ONLINE ENGAGEMENT 8

ONLINE ENGAGEMENT DETAILS 9 INTRODUCTION 10 FEEDBACK SUMMARY 10 RECOMMENDATIONS 16

OFFICIAL ADVISORY GROUP FEEDBACK 17 ADVISORY GROUP FEEDBACK 18 FEEDBACK SUMMARY 18

FEEDBACK FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 20 FEEDBACK FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 21 FEEDBACK SUMMARY 21

CITY OF COQUITLAM FEEDBACK AND NEXT STEPS 23 INTRODUCTION 24 SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK 24 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BC HOUSING AND THE CITY OF COQUITLAM 25 IMPACT OF CITY OF COQUITLAM INPUT 26 NEXT STEPS 26

APPENDICES 28


INTRODUCTION

Vision Process In 2013, when the provincial government asked BC Housing to undertake the planning process for the Riverview Lands, it was decided that creating a Vision document would be the first step to guide and inform future planning for the property. Four guiding principles were established at the outset of the Vision process, and have helped to frame the discussion throughout. These guiding principles are:

• An accommodation of First Nations’ aspirations; • A self-‐sustaining financial model that would see funds generated on site re-‐invested in

Riverview; • A commitment to a balanced vision that would consider social, economic, environmental, and

Provincial interests; and • A commitment to maintain as much open space as currently exists.

Following two years of public and stakeholder engagement, the provincial government announced the publication of A Vision for Renewing Riverview on December 17, 2015. This Vision document articulates a forward-‐thinking, creative and pragmatic vision for a renewed Riverview – one that balances the social, economic and environmental objectives of the Province, the City of Coquitlam, the Kwikwetlem First Nation and the local community. It honours a diversity of views and is consistent with the core guiding principles articulated at the start of the Vision process. After the release of A Vision for Renewing Riverview, BC Housing held the last round of public engagement for the Vision process to gather feedback on the Vision document itself. The document was made available on the Renewing Riverview website, and comments were submitted via PlaceSpeak, email, and letter.

Engagement to Date (Fall 2013 – Winter 2016) Stakeholders including the Province, the City of Coquitlam, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, Advisory Groups, and the public, have participated in shaping the future of Riverview through four open house sessions, a number of stakeholder meetings, six community kiosks and a variety of online engagement tools. An advisory process took place alongside the public open houses. BC Housing also met with stakeholders representing social, environmental, economic, and municipal interests, ensuring a balanced approach for the Vision. The two-‐year engagement process for the Riverview Vision began with meetings with City of Coquitlam council, staff and the Riverview Lands Advisory Committee (RLAC) to discuss the Vision and public engagement strategy. Their advice helped inform the approach for the initial open houses. Open House 1: Collecting Ideas Open House #1 was held on two days in February 2014 and introduced the Vision process, the guiding


principles, and the context and history of the property. Feedback from the first open house indicated strong public support for mental health care activity at Riverview, as well as broad interest in the property’s trees, natural environment, and heritage. Subsequent updates to the advisory groups followed the open house. Open House 2: Creating Goals Open House #2 was held on two days in May 2014, and provided a summary of feedback from the first open house, community kiosks, and the advisory groups. It defined preliminary goals for the Vision, based on public feedback and the guiding principles. Feedback received at the second open house focused on the same priorities expressed at the first open house: participants supported expanded mental health care services at Riverview, and valued the property for its trees, natural environment, and heritage. Subsequent updates to the advisory groups followed the open house. Open House 3: Co-‐Design Workshop As feedback from the first two open houses was largely consistent, a new format was selected for the third open house in order to advance these ideas, offer an interactive event, and further explore possibilities for the future of the Riverview Lands. Open House #3 included four co-‐design workshops held in September 2014. The workshops allowed participants to work with artists to create drawings of how they envisioned Riverview in an ideal future. Two sessions were held for members of the public, one for Kwikwetlem First Nation members, and one for university students. After the workshops, participants and members of the public were able to vote online on the ideas that had been generated. Through the drawings and online voting, participants indicated again that mental health care and the natural environment were their top priorities. The ideas and feedback generated in the workshops were used to further inform the goals developed in the first two open houses. Open House 4: Panel Discussion A clear set of priorities had emerged from members of the public who participated in the first three open houses. In response to this direction, BC Housing held Open House #4 in the form of a panel discussion of subject matter experts in the fields of mental health, complete communities, and self-‐sustaining finance. The panel discussion format allowed members of the public to directly address the subject matter experts, who answered questions about the possibilities for Riverview based on their expertise. The event took place on June 10, 2015 and was hosted by Gordon Price, Director of the City Program at SFU and a former Vancouver City Councillor. The panellists answered approximately 20 questions from members of the public. The panellists were:

• Dr. Julian Somers, SFU Professor of Health Sciences, former director of the SFU Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction

• Darrel Burnham, CEO of Coast Mental Health • Brent Toderian, President of TODERIAN UrbanWORKS and former Chief Planner for the City

of Vancouver • Tsur Somerville, Director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate

Comments and questions directed to the panellists followed the same themes discussed during


previous open houses, including mental health and the property’s trees and open spaces. Questions were also raised about the self-‐sustaining financial model and how various forms of development would impact the natural features and delivery of mental health services at Riverview. Online Engagement: PlaceSpeak Discussion A Vision for Renewing Riverview was released on December 17, 2015. The Vision was informed by a range of inputs, including BC Housing’s mandate and the guiding principles, the aspirations of the Province, the City of Coquitlam, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, the public, and Advisory Groups. The fifth and final round of consultation for the Vision focused on the collection of feedback based on the Vision document. Public responses to the Vision document focused on the same themes that had emerged throughout the Vision process. Details of the online engagement process and feedback received are discussed in the following sections of this report.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This consolidated report summarizes the following:

1. Key themes that emerged through the online engagement process, including feedback BC Housing received by email and in letters in response to the Vision document.

2. Advisory group feedback received in response to the Vision document. 3. Correspondence received by BC Housing from other organizations. 4. Input received by BC Housing from the City of Coquitlam, and next steps in the

Neighbourhood Planning process. Online Engagement – PlaceSpeak Discussion, Email and Letter Feedback Summary: BC Housing hosted its fifth and final round of public engagement for the Vision process between December 17, 2015 and February 12, 2016 by releasing the Vision document on the Renewing Riverview website. Comments were received through PlaceSpeak, email, and mail.

• The Vision document was downloaded approximately 21,000 times • There were approximately 2,964 page views of the online PlaceSpeak discussion • 140 comments were added to the PlaceSpeak discussion from 74 unique participants • 316 people “connected” to the discussion to receive updates as new discussions were posted • 68 emails were received • 6 letters were received by mail • In total, BC Housing received 214 pieces of written feedback

Written responses focused on similar themes to those that emerged at the initial open houses and throughout the Vision process. Key themes were:

• Mental Health and Wellness • Natural Environment, Trees,

and Open Spaces • Housing • Economic Development

• Finance • Process • Heritage • Kwikwetlem First Nation • Complete Communities

Advisory Group Feedback: BC Housing received official correspondence from the following two advisory groups:

• Tri-‐Cities Homelessness & Housing Task Group • Burke Mountain Naturalists

Feedback from Other Organizations:

BC Housing received official correspondence from the following four groups and organizations: • Riverview Village Project • HUB Tri-‐Cities • Partners in Care Alliance


• Riverview Preservation Society City of Coquitlam Neighbourhood Plan – Next Steps Input from the City of Coquitlam has been integral to the Vision process. Continued dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders, including City of Coquitlam Staff, Council, and the Riverview Lands Advisory Committee, will be important to the Neighbourhood Planning process. In this stage of the process, BC Housing intends to work toward adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan for the Riverview Lands by Coquitlam City Council.


SUMMARY REPORT – VISION DOCUMENT ONLINE ENGAGEMENT June 2016


ONLINE ENGAGEMENT DETAILS Vision Publication: December 17, 2015 Consultation Period: December 17, 2015 – February 12, 2016 Format: Renewing Riverview PlaceSpeak discussion page, email responses,

letters sent to BC Housing Notification: Email Notification Open House attendees who registered to receive updates were notified on January 7, 2016 that the Vision document had been published on renewingriverview.com and that feedback was being accepted online on the Renewing Riverview PlaceSpeak page. A second email notification was sent January 15, 2016, notifying the same recipients that the feedback period had been extended. Media Advertisement The publication of the Vision document and the online discussion were advertised in the following print publications:

• Tri City News • Indo Canadian Voice • Ming Pao • Paivand • Sing Tao

• The Link • Vanchosun • Chosun Ilbo

The publication of the Vision document and the online discussion were advertised in the following digital publication:

• Vancity Buzz A copy of the digital advertisement is found in Appendix A. A copy of the print advertisement is found in Appendix B.


INTRODUCTION The final round of public engagement for the Vision process took place between December 17 2015, and February 12, 2016, and focused on gathering feedback about A Vision for Renewing Riverview. The document was released online on December 17, 2015 to ensure broad public access. Feedback was collected via email and mail, and primarily through the Renewing Riverview PlaceSpeak page. PlaceSpeak is an online forum that allows participants to comment and track conversations. This format allowed for an open discussion of any topic, without being restricted to subjects covered on a questionnaire. The PlaceSpeak page also included an email address, which allowed members of the public to submit comments directly to BC Housing if they did not wish to participate in the public forum. The initial feedback period was set to close on January 29, 2016, but the deadline was extended to February 12 in response to public requests for more time to review and provide feedback. The Vision document remains available for review at renewingriverview.com. A copy of A Vision for Renewing Riverview can be found in Appendix C. FEEDBACK SUMMARY In each of the first four open houses, members of the public expressed a clear desire for mental health care facilities and services on the Riverview Lands, as well as a strong interest in the property’s trees and natural environment. Feedback on the Vision document demonstrated that participants remained committed to those same priorities. The comments have been categorized into nine themes in order to give a broad sense of the priorities that emerged: Mental Health and Wellness; Natural Environment, Trees and Open Spaces; Housing; Economic Development; Finance; Process; Heritage; Kwikwetlem First Nation; and Complete Communities. Key discussion topics are listed below, and the number of times each theme was mentioned by a unique individual is included next to the subject heading. These numbers are included to provide context to the key themes. Mental Health and Wellness (109) Expanded mental health care was the top priority identified by the public at each previous round of public engagement. The City of Coquitlam, the Riverview Lands Advisory Committee, and the advisory groups have also identified mental health care as a major priority. BC Housing consulted with mental health experts who agreed that Riverview had the capacity to address many of the needs of people living with mental illness in terms of facilities, services, and community design. The Vision for Riverview therefore includes an emphasis on mental health and wellbeing by planning for (1) a Health Precinct that is established through the relocation of the Willingdon Mental Health Care Programs, (2)


integrated community services that can serve a diversity of needs, and (3) healthy community design that prioritizes wellbeing for the entire Riverview community. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement again focused on mental health and included:

§ A desire to see expanded mental health care at Riverview, including many comments supporting mental health and the natural environment as the sole purposes of the property.

§ Support for training, education and research related to health at Riverview. § Misconceptions around mental health care services having to be financially self-‐sustaining. § Desire to understand a coordinated mental health strategy for the province and how

Riverview fits into this. § Perception that people with mental illness cannot survive or cope with community life;

perception that housing and mental healthcare are mutually exclusive or detrimental to one another.

§ Some support for services that complement mental health and wellness (including businesses, training, and housing); most comments expressed resistance to housing and economic development beyond those that served mental wellbeing.

§ Perception that some existing buildings are functional and can address current mental health needs in the region.

Natural Environment, Trees, and Open Spaces (101) In all stages of the engagement process, BC Housing heard from members of the public that Riverview was cherished for its natural features, its tree collection, and its open spaces. The Vision’s commitment to Riverview’s natural landscape is in large part a response to feedback from the public and stakeholders, such as the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society, the Burke Mountain Naturalists, the City of Coquitlam, and others who advocated for the preservation and enhancement of these key features. BC Housing also heard from experts in mental health and complete community design that a connection to nature can have positive mental health impacts. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ A desire for the land to be dedicated solely to mental health, open spaces, trees and natural environment.

§ Perception that the protection of trees and natural environment is mutually exclusive to any other form of development.

§ Uncertainty regarding BC Housing’s commitment to the property’s trees and open spaces; desire to understand specific trees and areas that will be preserved.

§ Some interest in seeing recreation as part of Riverview’s future, including trails, cycling, etc. § Interest in specific sites of significance, such as Finnie’s Garden, Serenity Garden, and the

cemetery. § Interest in the watershed, water tables, streams, wildlife, habitat, green links, and ecology;

desire to understand how development would impact the natural environment. Housing (92) Housing is an important part of the break-‐even mandate for the Riverview Lands. Throughout the Vision process BC Housing heard mixed responses to housing, including some who supported housing


at Riverview and others who felt it belonged elsewhere. BC Housing heard from the Tri-‐Cities Homelessness & Housing Task Group that providing housing would contribute to addressing the region’s housing needs. Mental health experts emphasized that housing and the establishment of a complete community would support best practices in mental health care, which focus on community-‐centred care while also providing transition options for those receiving treatment at Riverview. BC Housing also heard from the Kwikwetlem First Nation that housing provided an opportunity for economic development for the Nation. The Vision responds to this input with a range of housing types, including market and non-‐market housing, which will help address the need for housing in the region, while making it possible to reinvest in the Lands through the self-‐sustaining model. Providing a range of housing choices will allow residents to transition between different housing forms and tenures as their needs change. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Some support for non-‐market housing, particularly with respect to providing a continuum of care, assisted living facilities, low-‐income facilities, etc.

§ Some interest in a range of housing choices at Riverview providing opportunities to transition based on individual need, as well as addressing affordability and shortage of housing in the region.

§ Opposition to market housing development at Riverview. § Questions about affordability of potential market development at Riverview.

Economic Development (62) Throughout the Vision process, BC Housing heard broad support from members of the public, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, and other stakeholders for relevant retail, shops, cafes and restaurants to serve the community at Riverview. The Kwikwetlem First Nation expressed the view that business opportunities, housing, and economic development could be valuable for its members. Stakeholders such as the City of Coquitlam expressed a desire to see uses such as a Health and Wellness Business Park created at Riverview. BC Housing also heard strong support for the continued presence of the film industry from many participants in the Vision process. As referenced in the Vision document, BC Housing is committed to exploring economic development opportunities that contribute to the City and the community including supporting and encouraging the expansion of the film industry, including community-‐serving retail and services as part of a complete community, and encouraging the location of health-‐related businesses and services. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Some support for shops and services needed by medical professionals and patients in Riverview.

§ Some interest in tourism, training, and local jobs for students, patients, and residents; most comments suggested limiting opportunities to medical professionals or those with mental illness.

§ Opposition to economic development at Riverview. § Perception that developers and private interests would take precedence over the public

interest.


Finance (57) BC Housing has committed to following a self-‐sustaining financial model for Riverview. This means revenue generated from the property will fund infrastructure and transportation upgrades, heritage retention and revitalization, parks and tree maintenance, and the creation of public spaces and amenities. This was one of the guiding principles from the outset of the Vision process, and will play an important part in realizing the Vision for Riverview. The commitment to the break-‐even mandate does not include revenue generated by the Kwikwetlem First Nation, nor does it include costs associated with any health care services that may be provided at Riverview. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Interest in other financial models, including tax funding, public ownership of the property, leasing of land.

§ Perception that the break-‐even mandate will lead directly to market housing. § Questions about how the development of market housing could lead to long-‐term revenue

generation. § Some support for the use of market housing and commercial space to subsidize non-‐market

housing and other costs. § Uncertainty about the relationship between healthcare funding and the self-‐sustaining model

for Riverview; comments suggesting that increased public funding to mental healthcare would provide long-‐term savings.

Process (49) BC Housing led a two-‐year engagement process to help inform the Vision for Riverview, including four open houses, public kiosks, and online engagement tools. Consultation for the Vision included the City of Coquitlam, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, Provincial partners and agencies, advisory groups, and the public. The Vision document was informed by the input of these groups and the Provincial Considerations established at the outset of the process. Following the release of the Vision document, BC Housing hosted a fifth round of engagement online to allow the broadest possible range of participants to share their feedback. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Comments that the Vision document does not fully capture public feedback in a detailed way; interest in seeing a detailed summary of feedback to date.

§ Questions about the role of BC Housing, the Provincial Government, and their objectives for the property; comments questioning whether public feedback was considered.

§ Questions about the efficacy and difficulty of using PlaceSpeak as an engagement tool. § Interest in understanding the next steps of the process and what opportunities there would

be for feedback going forward. § Interest in considering options to expand the number of participants in the process. § Misconceptions regarding the various sources that informed the Vision document in addition

to public input.


Heritage (39) Riverview’s heritage emerged as an important theme in the Vision process, with members of the public expressing a desire to see the property’s heritage buildings adapted and reused wherever possible. BC Housing heard during a panel discussion for Open House #4 that heritage features are an important part of “placemaking” and creating a unique identity for a community. The Kwikwetlem First Nation has also highlighted the importance of archaeological sites and the Nation’s cultural and historic ties to the Lands. The Vision reflects this input by committing to explore opportunities to restore and renew the property’s older buildings, and to recognize the distinctive history and traditions of the Kwikwetlem people. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Support for heritage buildings being reused where possible. § Uncertainty about what will and can be preserved; questions about the rationale for

replacing a building like Valleyview. § Questions about whether it would be more or less expensive to upgrade, rebuild, or adapt

buildings. Kwikwetlem First Nation (23) The Kwikwetlem First Nation has a 9000-‐year history living on the banks of the Coquitlam River and claims the Riverview Lands as part of its traditional territory. From the outset, the Vision process has included a separate and distinct consultation with the KFN that would result in a Vision that would honour the Nation’s connections to the land while providing opportunities for its members. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Interest in developing an understanding of the KFN’s interest in the Riverview Lands and knowing more about their process with BC Housing.

§ Questions regarding the types of compensation that would be available to the KFN. § Some support for including the KFN in the process and a desire to be assured they are

involved. Complete Communities (10) A complete community is one that provides the goods and services residents need on a daily basis within walking distance of where they live and work. Riverview was once a complete community, and the intent of the Vision is to re-‐establish a complete community. Feedback during the Vision process touched on the need for Riverview to be inclusive of all people, including families, seniors, and people living with mental illness. BC Housing heard from experts in the field of mental healthcare that people with mental illness were best treated in complete communities, where the supports they require are provided in the place they call home. Public feedback from the fifth round of engagement included:

§ Interest in walkability, recreation, childcare, and cycling infrastructure.


§ Some support for shops and services needed for local residents, and amenities that can be shared with the local and surrounding community.

§ Desire for community development in Riverview to be limited only to what serves those with mental illness, small services, training opportunities, etc.

§ Some support for other goods, services, and activities being provided to ensure that mental health care is not just about the inpatient setting.

§ Perception that a complete community at Riverview is not necessary nor is it what the public has asked for.

See Appendix D for a copy of the PlaceSpeak discussion in full and Appendix E for emails and letters sent to BC Housing during the most recent round of engagement.


RECOMMENDATIONS Public feedback has remained consistent through all phases of the engagement process. Feedback has addressed themes of mental health care and the protection of Riverview’s trees and open spaces. Questions have arisen about the nature of potential development at Riverview and how the self-‐sustaining financial model would work. The following recommendation is being made to inform plans for public engagement during the next stages of the project: Provide an outline of BC Housing’s commitments for the Neighbourhood Plan process. This should include:

o Specific actions and steps that will be taken to achieve the goals set out by BC

Housing in the Vision document. o A description of specific initiatives that BC Housing will pursue for mental health care

at Riverview. o Specific steps BC Housing will take to identify and protect natural features at

Riverview. o An explanation of economic development opportunities that BC Housing will pursue

for the Riverview Lands. o An outline of the process BC Housing will follow for land use planning, including a

commitment to the City of Coquitlam’s neighbourhood planning process.


OFFICIAL ADVISORY GROUP FEEDBACK As of June 2016


ADVISORY GROUP FEEDBACK The Vision process for the future of the Riverview Lands has included providing updates and receiving feedback from a number of advisory groups. The advisory groups represent social, environmental, economic, municipal, and provincial interests. These groups lend their expertise to the project team and advise on the consultation and the future of the Riverview Lands. Since the last consultation report was drafted in July 2015, BC Housing has received official correspondence from two of its advisory groups. FEEDBACK SUMMARY Email Communication from the Tri-‐Cities Homelessness & Housing Task Group Dated January 23, 2016 An email communication received from the Tri-‐Cities Homelessness & Housing Task Group provided an official response to the Vision document. The Task Group acknowledged the scope of the Vision regarding mental health and addiction services, housing, and the aspiration to build a complete community, and stated that this scope is consistent with the Task Group’s “Riverview Land Statement of Need, ” dated May 29, 2014. The Task Group stated its expectation to see other mental health and addiction treatment facilities at Riverview, in addition to the Willingdon Facilities. Please see Appendix F for a copy of the complete email. PlaceSpeak Communication from the Burke Mountain Naturalists Dated February 12, 2016 A comment on PlaceSpeak from the Burke Mountain Naturalists provided an official response to the Vision document. The comment included the following:

• Suggestion that notification of the public engagement process should have been more extensive and that alternatives to providing comments through PlaceSpeak should have been clearly presented.

• A link to the Burke Mountain Naturalists’ analysis of Open House #3 feedback. • Suggestion that a summary of previous input should have been presented with the Vision

document, including input from other levels of government. • Opposition to housing and a complete community at Riverview. • Suggestion that more land be identified for mental health care. • Suggestion to retain the Valleyview building. • Suggestion to keep the Riverview Lands in public trust, to be used for mental health care and

supporting services and activities.


• Request for more detailed approach to tree collection, orchard, streams, and other elements of the natural environment, including a tree protection plan.

• Request for more detailed approach and understanding of Riverview’s heritage buildings. • Concern that BC Housing has reneged on its commitment to preserve Riverview’s open space. • Suggestion to find alternative compensation approach with Kwikwetlem First Nation. • Concern regarding a project coordinator job posting by BC Housing.

Please see Appendix F for a copy of the complete message. ADVISORY FEEDBACK TO DATE In addition to the submissions referenced above, BC Housing has received formal feedback from the following groups acting in an advisory capacity:

• Tri-‐Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group – Statement of Need • Riverview Horticultural Centre Society – Vision for the Riverview Lands • The Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce’s Renewing Riverview Sub-‐Committee Report • Burke Mountain Naturalists – “A Vision for Renewing Riverview Hospital – A Campus of

Compassionate Care,” dated June 24, 2015 • Tri-‐Cities Homelessness & Housing Task Group – Letter dated January 14, 2015 • Fraser Health – Letter dated October 21, 2014 • City of Coquitlam – Into the Future: The Coquitlam Health Campus


FEEDBACK FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS As of June 2016


FEEDBACK FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BC Housing has sought input from a range of stakeholders, groups, and individuals in creating the Vision for the Riverview Lands. Since the last consultation report was drafted in July 2015, BC Housing has received four pieces of additional correspondence from the following groups and organizations:

• Riverview Village Project • HUB Tri-‐Cities • Partners in Care Alliance • Riverview Preservation Society

FEEDBACK SUMMARY Email Communication from the Riverview Village Project February 11, 2016 Correspondence was received from the Riverview Village Project, suggesting the creation of an “intentional community” committed to the benefit of people with serious mental illnesses. The letter suggests that the Vision has the potential to be groundbreaking, but does not go far enough in this regard. The letter requests clarity regarding the nature of mental health care proposed for Riverview, and suggests a variety of approaches to serving those with mental illnesses in Riverview, including population benchmarks, a core staff team, and appropriate allocation of housing. It also makes a number of other recommendations for the Vision related to mental health and the creation of an “intentional community” in Riverview. Please see Appendix G for a copy of the complete email. Email Communication from the Riverview Preservation Society February 11, 2016 Correspondence was received from the Riverview Preservation Society, advocating that the Riverview Lands remain publicly owned, and used solely for the treatment of mental illness and addictions. They also advocated for the preservation of Riverview’s trees, natural environment and heritage, and included recommendations for a new horticulture school, teaching hospital, and research facilities. Please see Appendix G for a copy of the complete letter. Letter from Partners in Care Alliance February 12, 2016 Correspondence was received from the Partners in Care Alliance, an end-‐of-‐life care and cemetery-‐space advocacy group. They expressed a desire to expand the existing cemetery by 57 acres in order to address the shortage of burial land in the Lower Mainland. The concept outlined in the letter


includes dedicated ethno-‐cultural and multi-‐faith sections of the cemetery, using reusable, green burial plots, as well as five acres to be allocated to a pet cemetery. Please see Appendix G for a copy of the complete letter. Email Communication from HUB Tri-‐Cities Correspondence was received from HUB Tri-‐Cities, a non-‐profit focused on cycling advocacy. The letter expresses their view that the Vision and the renewal of Riverview should provide an opportunity to expand cycling infrastructure in the Tri-‐Cities. The group advocates for All Ages and Abilities cycling routes, and suggests that connections through Riverview are critical for regional connectivity. Please see Appendix G for a copy of the complete email. ORGANIZATIONS FEEDBACK TO DATE In addition to the submissions referenced above, to date, BC Housing has received formal feedback from the following organizations:

• Mental Illness Family Support Centre Society – Letter dated June 23, 2014 • Metro Vancouver – Letter dated March 20, 2014 • Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division – Letter dated June 20, 2014 • Correspondence from Herschel Hardin – Riverview Village: An innovative, ground-‐breaking

community for the Riverview Lands • Tri-‐Cities Festival Planners Network – Email dated September 26, 2014 • British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization – Recent Resolution • HFBC Housing Foundation – Letter dated January 7, 2015 • Metro Vancouver, Regional Parks Division – Letter dated January 13, 2015 • “Riverview Lands Vision – The Student Perspective” – May 2015 • “Feedback on Renewing Riverview’s Fourth Open House” – Riverview Village Project, dated

June 10, 2015


CITY OF COQUITLAM FEEDBACK AND NEXT STEPS As of June 2016


INTRODUCTION The publication of A Vision for Renewing Riverview, and the conclusion of the latest round of public consultation, marks the transition point between the Vision process and the neighbourhood planning process for the Riverview Lands. Meeting the aspirations set out in the Vision will require the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan for the property and an update to the City of Coquitlam’s Official Community Plan. The City of Coquitlam has been integral to BC Housing’s planning process so far, and BC Housing remains committed to meaningful collaboration and engagement with the City in the next stages of the planning process, including neighbourhood planning. At the outset of the Vision process, BC Housing met with City of Coquitlam Staff and Council to review the public consultation process and receive input from the City. BC Housing has provided periodic updates to Council, Staff, and the Riverview Lands Advisory Committee throughout the Vision process, and worked with the City to ensure its input was reflected in the content of the Vision. SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK The Riverview Lands are important to the people of Coquitlam, and the City of Coquitlam has provided BC Housing with robust and thoughtful feedback throughout the Vision process. The City has identified that its aspirations for the Riverview Lands include the provision of mental health facilities, respect for the property’s heritage, trees, natural systems, and open spaces, the inclusion of academic institutions, training and education opportunities, and the provision of supportive non-‐market housing on the property. The City has also published a number of reports and other documents outlining its aspirations for the property, including the 2005 Riverview Task Force report For the Future of Riverview, and the 2008 Statement of Significance prepared by heritage architect Donald Luxton. Coquitlam Health Campus Report In 2014, the City adopted a report entitled Into the Future: the Coquitlam Health Campus, A Vision for the Riverview Lands, which was prepared by Dr. John Higenbottam. This report provides a history of the Riverview Lands and mental health care treatment in British Columbia, as well as the City’s vision for the property. This vision includes support for mental health programs at Riverview, opposition to residential and commercial development, and a desire to see the natural beauty, ecology, and heritage assents of the property preserved. The report makes a number of recommendations for the future of the property, which include:

• Establishing specialized psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services at Riverview; • Establishing a psychiatric hospital in Riverview; • Relocating the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction from the Willingdon site in

Burnaby to Riverview; • Establishing a purpose-‐built acute care hospital in Riverview, or an urgent care centre in the

absence of a hospital; • Developing additional long-‐term supportive residential and rehabilitation housing in the areas

currently occupied by residential cottages and lodges; • Creating an education and training centre in conjunction with post-‐secondary institutions;


• Establishing a health and wellness business park including medical laboratories, clinics, diagnostics labs, and medical technology and supply companies, as well as addictions treatment and rehabilitation programs;

• Creating a recreational facility and dedicating recreation space to members of the public and residents of programs at Riverview;

• Preserving significant landscape features and the tree collection; • Continuing current uses such as filming and use by social and cultural groups.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BC HOUSING AND THE CITY OF COQUITLAM BC Housing and the City of Coquitlam have exchanged a total of four letters since the publication of the Vision document. The content of these letters is summarized below. Copies of correspondence between BC Housing and the City of Coquitlam are included in Appendix H. Letter from Mayor Richard Stewart to BC Housing, dated February 16, 2016 On February 16, 2016, City of Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart provided an initial response to A Vision for Renewing Riverview, and a summary of comments that emerged from the City’s Special Strategic Priorities Standing Committee Meeting on February 9, 2016. Mayor Stewart raised the following subjects as priorities for further discussion with BC Housing: the planning process that has been followed so far, next steps in the process, the property’s open spaces and tree collection, the amount of space to be developed, the property’s heritage buildings, the allocation of funds to maintain the property, important sites such as the cemetery and Old Orchard, transit and road improvement planning, and existing leases. Letter from BC Housing to Mayor Stewart, dated March 4, 2016 BC Housing provided an official response to Mayor Stewart’s letter, dated March 4, 2016. This letter provided additional information in response to the questions raised by Mayor Stewart, and identified some of the steps that the agency has taken to inform future decision making. These steps include hiring arborist, landscape architect, and heritage building consultants for the property. Letter from Mayor Richard Stewart to BC Housing, dated March 18, 2016 On March 18, 2016, BC Housing received a letter from Mayor Stewart providing official feedback from the City on the Vision. The letter discusses the property's natural features, historical significance, and capacity to provide space for mental health care facilities. The letter also requests clarification on the amount of land to be developed and a more thorough representation of the City’s input into the Vision process. The following feedback is also included in the letter:

• Support for the relocation of the Willingdon Mental Health Care Programs to the Riverview Lands;

• Support for additional mental health care facilities on the property; • Support for the retention of the tree collection; • Concern regarding BC Housing’s commitment to maintain the property’s open spaces; • Support for the preservation of the property’s historically significant buildings, and a desire to

see significant buildings assessed for historical value and rehabilitation; • Opposition to market housing on the property; and


• Support for non-‐market social housing, including housing to support mental health services. Letter from BC Housing to Mayor Stewart, dated April 12, 2016 BC Housing provided an official response to Mayor Stewart’s letter, dated April 12, 2016. BC Housing affirms the commitment to work collaboratively with the City through the next stages of the planning process, and thanks mayor and council for their participation in the vision process. IMPACT OF CITY OF COQUITLAM INPUT BC Housing has sought to balance the social, environmental, and economic aspirations of the Province, the City of Coquitlam, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, the public, and the Advisory Groups in the Vision document. As such, input provided by the City of Coquitlam has formed an integral part of A Vision for Renewing Riverview. In particular, the Vision document’s emphasis on mental health and on heritage and environment is a direct response to feedback received from the City and other stakeholders. Major elements of the Vision—such as the relocation of the Willingdon Mental Health Care Programs—resulted directly from input received from the City of Coquitlam, the public, and stakeholders. The Vision includes a Health Precinct, which aligns with the City’s advocacy for a cluster of supportive mental health care services to be located on the Riverview Lands. BC Housing is committed to maintaining and enhancing Riverview’s natural and ecological function and its public spaces and amenities in a way that meets local and regional needs, as advocated by the City of Coquitlam throughout the Vision process. NEXT STEPS The next step of the planning process for the future of the Riverview Lands is to develop a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for the property. The NP will consider the City’s existing policies and will be created by working collaboratively with City staff. The City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) guides development within Coquitlam and contains Area Plans and Neighbourhood Plans, which provide further direction for how communities within Coquitlam will develop. Riverview falls within the Southwest Coquitlam Area Plan (SWCAP), and as such, the NP for Riverview will have to demonstrate that it aligns with the principles outlined in the City’s OCP and the SWCAP. The creation of the NP will require amendments to the land use designations in the OCP and SWCAP in order to ensure they are current and allow for the uses outlined in the Vision. Creating a NP for the Riverview Lands will provide the necessary direction for re-‐establishing a complete community on the property—one that contributes to the City and the surrounding community, while still serving as a regional asset, cherished for its green space and commitment to mental health. Through collaboration with the City the NP will identify new road and pathway linkages to be created within and into the property, improving connectivity to the surrounding community and within the property. This will create an improved street network and more connected urban fabric. Likewise, BC Housing will work with regional partners and local transit service providers to connect the property to the surrounding community through improved transit linkages.


Land uses will also be identified within the NP, which will help to create new housing, retail and employment opportunities. The NP will provide direction for adaptation of the property’s heritage features, as well as identifying opportunities for amenity features, and enhanced green spaces and natural areas. Some of the work necessary to achieve the Vision includes geotechnical, arborist, and heritage assessments of the property. Riverview will constitute a Development Permit Area under the OCP, and a new set of Urban Design guidelines will accompany the Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that the form of development meets the objectives set out in A Vision for Renewing Riverview. During the Neighbourhood Planning process, BC Housing will:

• Provide municipal policy context to frame the development of the Neighbourhood Plan; • Meet regularly with City of Coquitlam staff, Council, and the Riverview Lands Advisory

Committee to collaborate, engage, provide project updates and hear input; • Work toward plan adoption by Coquitlam City Council; • Continue to engage with the community and provide opportunities for feedback at major

project milestones; • Engage necessary consultants, including a geotechnical expert, heritage architect, and

arborist, to assess key features of the property; • Develop a plan to communicate with existing tenants, keeping them informed of potential

changes to the property and their respective tenancies.

Documents

Riverview OH 5 report Final - 2016-06-06 · Riverview Lands Public Consultation Summary Report – June 2016 !! Page 4 of 27! ! ! principles,and!thecontext!and!historyof!the!property.!Feedback!from!the!firstopen!house!indicated!