Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart did an about-face this week on a controversial housing plan, claiming the developer gave the city misleading information.

On Tuesday, Stewart told The Tri-City News he backed down from the high-density, transit-oriented application for 225 North Rd. because he felt Seattle businessman and property owner Doug Rosen wasn't telling the truth about the walking distances to nearby SkyTrain stations.

Rosen's 27-acre industrial land, commonly known as the Crane site, located on the south side of the Highway 1 overpass, is situated half way between the Braid and the Lougheed Town Centre rapid transit stations.

"The information he gave us at [the strategic planning] committee [last week] was wrong," Stewart said. "It's not within walking distance: It's a kilometre to the Lougheed station and half-a-kilometre to Braid.

"We don't want to build around SkyTrain. We want to build around SkyTrain stations," the mayor said, adding, "He didn't give us the facts."

Because of Stewart's reversal, the bid failed to move ahead at Monday's city council meeting, thereby stopping the plans Rosen has had before city hall for two years.

Many city councillors voiced concern over the proposal, called the Brunette River Village, primarily due to the lack of a second access road. The cities of New Westminster and Burnaby as well as Metro Vancouver and Coquitlam planners also rejected the request for an official community plan amendment, which would have created up to 2,000 new homes in six 26-storey towers.

Last week at committee, Rosen said none of the neighbouring property owners had been willing to talk with him about the development — and, more specifically, about a secondary access to the site — until he got a clear signal from Coquitlam.

Meanwhile, city council voted to continue its talks with New West and property owners — including Rosen — about a comprehensive development plan for the area bounded by the highway, North Road, Braid Street and Brunette Avenue. Councillors Doug Macdonell, Linda Reimer and Mae Reid opposed further discussion with New West.

Rosen told The News on Tuesday: "We have the opportunity to transform a marginal piece of industrial property into a model mixed-use and transit-oriented sustainable development that integrates the surrounding amenities and maximizes local benefits.

"As a result of the council meeting, we look forward to collaborating with adjacent property owners and city staff in both Coquitlam and New Westminster."

jwarren@tricitynews.com