Thurs. May 30, 2024: City struggles to meet provincial requirements for transit-oriented areas

Good morning, Burnaby!

We want to say hello to our news subscribers today! If it’s your first week receiving the Beacon, welcome! You can also share our newsletter with your family and friends by getting them to subscribe here.

This week, we’re bringing you a thorough council roundup where councillors discussed the city’s struggle to meet zoning requirements for transit-oriented areas, a $9.7M purchase for fire trucks, and discussions around the recent attack on Rafah’s refugee camp. Also featured is a celebration of Burnaby’s new works yard and the grand opening of a mobile artist studio in Edmonds Park.

👀 In today's edition:

• Topics covered in this week’s council meeting

• Road closures loom as annual festival nears

• A new mobile artist studio

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COUNCIL

City struggles to meet provincial requirements for transit-oriented areas

Provincial zoning legislation came up again in council during its Monday, May 27 meeting as council debated ways to meet the BC government’s deadline to meet the zoning requirements for transit-oriented areas (TOAs).

Last November, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley spoke with the Beacon about the new legislation, expressing his concerns about the city’s ability to make the necessary infrastructure changes to meet the increased density requirements. Hurley gave examples of newer pipes to handle the increased demand for wastewater management, garbage collection, emergency services, and other essential infrastructure services. 

Get the full roundup on this week’s council meeting here, from a $9.7M purchase for new fire engines to several councillors speaking out about the Rafah refugee camp attack.

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Burnaby Bulletin

Free concert series for Canada Day. Burnaby’s longstanding Canada Day StreetFest Event will feature a headlining performance by Dear Rouge. This year’s event will be held at Swangard stadium and also include Juno-nominated soul singer Tanika Charles, jazz influenced indie-rockers Tiger Really, and singer-songwriter Hayley Wallis.

Online hub intended to provide housing relief. The Government of British Columbia announced the creation of a new online hub to speed up the permitting process to get new housing built. According to Premier David Eby, slow and complicated permitting processes have exasperated the housing crisis. [CTV]

Road closures loom as annual festival nears. Hats Off Day is taking place on Saturday, June 1, between Gamma Avenue and Boundary Road on Hastings Street. The celebratory community-focused festival will feature entertainment for kids, food stands and live performances. [Daily Hive]

RCMP issues 69 tickets across Burnaby and neighbouring municipalities. The BC RCMP has released its figures after participating in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck initiative. According to the RCMP, 120 vehicle checks were performed with more than 200 violations identified between May 14 and 16.

Summer Fun Pass now available. Children and youth between the ages of 5 and 13 can now get tickets for the summer series of drop-in events taking place across Burnaby’s recreational facilities. According to the city, some of the events may have age restrictions.

Boffo Developments ready to preview master-planned community in Brentwood. Bassano, a cluster of four residential towers planned by the five decade old developer, is ready for preview. [RENX]

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NEWS

Burnaby celebrates grand opening of the city’s new works yard

On Saturday, May 25, the City of Burnaby held a huge event to celebrate the grand opening of its new Laurel Street Works Yard, coinciding with Public Works Week. 

For city staff, the yard’s opening was about more than a day of celebration; it was the culmination of a decade’s work planning, designing, funding, and finally building the new yard. 

“Nobody ever thought that it would happen,” said Brian Carter, director of public works with the city. “It’s exciting for me because I live and breathe public works, and I’m passionate about it. It’s nice to finally see the finished product.” 

Get the full story here.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

New mobile art studio now open in Edmonds

Burnaby artists have a brand new space to create in Edmonds Park after opening a new FLEET mobile art studio.

On Saturday, May 25, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley attended the opening along with city staff, representatives of Other Sights, the non-profit artist collective behind the project, and representatives of community organizations. 

According to Jay Pahre, programming lead for FLEET, the studio is still under construction and will be completed in mid-June. Artists can submit proposals for a wide range of projects.

Find more information about the studio and how to submit a project proposal here.

Where to eat & drink

🍜 Chad Thai. This cozy nook on Hastings Street is easily one of the best Thai experiences you’ll have in Burnaby. Not only do they master classics like tom yum soup and green curry—most of their dishes can be prepared both vegetarian and gluten-free upon request, making it suitable for all tastes and food diets.

🥪 Oneway Cafe. If you’re hungry and on the hunt for a juicy sandwich to sink your teeth into, this is the place to be. Think magical flavour bombs like grilled paninis with chashu braised pork and bulgogi, club sandwiches and creamy smoked salmon avocado toasts.

🍑 Paradise Juice. As scorching hot days are right within our grasp, juice and smoothie stands like this gem in Burnaby’s Crystal Mall can’t be beat. From fresh sugar cane juice and shaved ice to thick and frothy mango smoothies, it’s a great place to keep in mind for the summer.

🤝 Now Hiring

Looking to make a move? Here are local jobs open right now:

• Community Outreach Representative at BC Hydro

• Youth Counsellor at Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC

• Change Specialist at BCAA

• Assistant General Manager at Bow & Stern

• Pilates Instructor at Joayo Therapy

• Asset Management Specialist at JRS Engineering

• People & Cultural Specialist at BCIT Student Association

• Factory Turner at Watson Gloves

Hiring and want to let people know? Reply back and let us know!

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Paint Nite: The Original Paint and Sip Party. 7pm. Oliver Twist Pub & Grill.

• Diversity Virtual Job Fair. 11am. Online via Zoom. 

• Terrarium Candle Workshop. 6:30pm. 3871 N Fraser Way #6.

Friday

• Collab Event: Top Business Tools to Scale Your Startup. 5:30pm. 5999 Henning Dr.

• Technology Virtual Job Fair. 11am. Online via Zoom.

• Release & Heal Breathwork and Soundbath. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.

Saturday

• Hats Off Day. 9:30am-4pm. Hastings Street, from Boundary Road to Gamma Avenue.

• Bubbles & Boards. 7pm. Something Sweet Cafe.

• Salsa Romantica Party. 9pm. World Dance Co.

• Chakradance: Burst Into Brilliance. 10am. The Mindful Lab - Meditation + Creative Studio.

Sunday

• Happy Hour Botanical Workshop. 10am. Gardenworks.

• Paint Nite: The Original Paint and Sip Party. 6pm. The Rec Room.

• Burnaby 2050: Open House. 7pm. Brentwood Mall.

Monday

• Paint Nite: The Original Paint and Sip Party. 7pm. Wings Burnaby.

• Veterans Virtual Job Fair. 11am. Online via Zoom. 

Tuesday

• Ballroom Workshop. 5pm. World Dance Co.

• Palettes & Pebbles: FASS Summer Rock Painting. 2pm. Simon Fraser University.

Wednesday

• Global Run Day 2024: Burnaby. 6:15pm. Fit First Footwear.

• Podcasting for Business. 7pm. 3430 Brighton Ave.

• Chakra Clearing & Energy Cleansing Meditation. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.