Bose Farm plan: ‘Caution’

A plan to develop the historic Bose Farm property on 64 Avenue near 164 Street has some city councillors saying they’ll proceed with caution, citing heritage value and site design as reasons.

The reservations come weeks after The Leader reported the property had sold and that the city’s heritage committee was unanimously opposed to the plan to locate more than 200 townhomes on the property.

The construction proposal also requires relocating 113-year-old heritage buildings from the top of the hill to farmland below.

Rempel Developments Group said via an e-mail interview it was far too early to comment on the development plans.

However, The Leader has obtained an early draft of the plan, which consumes much of the western portion of the Bose property.

A forest on the eastern portion will be preserved.

Coun. Bob Bose has declined comment due to a conflict of interest.

Coun. Judy Higginbotham, who chairs the city’s heritage committee, rejects the proposal, which she said will turn the hillside into something equivalent to the Mary Hill bypass development in Coquitlam.

Mayor Dianne Watts said she saw early drawings of the plan and is reserving judgement until she views a final draft.

Most other councillors say they have not seen any of the Bose Farm plans.

“It’s one that isn’t before council because we haven’t seen it,” said Coun. Marvin Hunt. “Cautiously is the operative word on this one, because I think it’s going to be quite the process for this property to go through.”

Coun. Mary Martin has reservations about the plan in its entirety.

“I want to look into more of the heritage issues around that farm,” Martin said. “I’m not happy with any development on that Bose farm... a tentative no until I know more.”

Coun. Linda Hepner noted, “That’s never been, in my mind, where we expected development to go...”

Coun. Tom Gill said if the development looks good and fits in with surrounding homes, he’s OK with it.

He said “form and character” of the development will be critical. “Because you’re going to be living with it for 100 years.”

kdiakiw@surreyleader.com