A plan to add a rooftop outdoor play area to a commercial building in Fremont Village has been recommended for approval by city staff, according to a report from the City of Port Coquitlam. The Committee of Council will consider the amendment at an upcoming meeting on October 7.
The amendment to Development Permit would allow minor roof design changes to Building U at 815 Village Drive. The proposal supports the creation of an outdoor play space for a childcare facility that plans to lease the commercial unit below. The applicant, Onni Group of Companies, is seeking to add stairwells, an elevator shaft, and guardrails to provide secure rooftop access. The 593-square-metre play area would include age-appropriate play equipment and shade structures.
City staff said the design changes are consistent with Fremont Village’s development guidelines and make good use of unused space. “The rooftop outdoor play space provides direct access between the indoor and outdoor components of the childcare facility,” the report stated.
The proposed childcare centre would occupy a 1,166-square-metre unit and could accommodate about 150 children ranging from infants to five years old. Fraser Health has confirmed that the rooftop play area would meet provincial childcare licensing requirements.
Fremont Village, situated near Sherling Avenue and Lougheed Highway, features several businesses, including Hive Climbing and Fitness, Pedalheads Swimming, and various restaurants. Building U was completed in 2014 as a mixed-use development which allows retail, office, and childcare uses.
City staff said the project aligns with Port Coquitlam’s Child Care Action Plan, which calls for approximately 145 new childcare spaces each year through 2030. “The additional childcare spaces would help address a community need and support the city’s childcare targets,” the report noted.
