Large-scale development plan for Vancouver-area village dropped

A housing project in Anmore that would have seen 1,750 homes added to the small village has been pulled by the developer.

A major housing development planned for the Vancouver-area village of Anmore has been pulled.

The withdrawal came Monday evening, an hour before the village was set to host a public hearing on the controversial development plan.

Led by developer Icona Properties, the Anmore South project was expected to triple the size of the small village with 1,750 units of housing – comprising condo buildings, townhomes and duplexes – planned for a large plot of forested land in its centre.

In a statement late Monday night, Greg Moore, CEO of Icona Properties, said it had become clear as the project unfolded that the proposal “though supported by many, has also caused division” among the community.

“This was never our intent. In fact, it’s the opposite of what we set out to do,” said Moore.

Continuing down the planned path would not bring the community together, but would “only deepen the divide, and that’s not how strong, resilient communities are built,” he said.

Moore said pulling the project will allow developers to “explore a path forward that brings more unity than discord.”

“Our sincere hope is that this step will help ease tensions and create the space for a collaborative, community-driven solution,” he said.

The decision comes after weeks of residents voicing their fierce opposition to the development plans, with residents calling on council to scrap it entirely. Signs erected within the village bearing messages like “You don’t have my support” and “Anmore Council don’t betray us” litter lawns throughout.

Anmore local Ryan Peterson said the residents of the village aren’t opposed to development within the area, but that a better executed, and cheaper plan should be sought.

“To be very candid, the development proposed here would have probably been the most expensive, unaffordable housing in existence,” said Peterson.

Peterson said those involved have come to some “fiscal sanity,” and the withdrawal from the developer provides the room to pivot to a different approach.

“We’ll come up with a plan that makes sense and ensures there is growth for families to come to Anmore,” he said.