What was once a depot for idling buses could soon be a depot for hostas and hydrangeas.
City of North Vancouver council voted unanimously Monday night to advance a proposal from Urban Roots Garden Market to temporarily repurpose part of the mothballed transit depot on Third Street into a new seasonal pop-up store.
Eventually, the city’s official community plan foresees the property being used as a mixed-use/commercial hub to serve the burgeoning Moodyville neightbourhood, but the OCP does allow for temporary use permits that can be in place for up to six years.
If approved by council, Urban Roots would lease 2,462 square metres on the eastern side of the property from TransLink for the next three years.
In 2016, TransLink closed its Third Street bus depot in North Vancouver and moved the buses to the Burnaby Transit Centre, against the protestation of local governments, who warned the change could leave North Vancouver without bus service.
The temporary use of the space as a garden centre largely fits within the city’s goals in the meantime, according to staff, and council members raised few objections.
“It's a good use of the land. They don't have to do any anything environmental because they're not digging into the ground, and I think provides a service that's wanted in the community so I'm happy to support it,” said Coun. Don Bell.
Council will make its decision about the proposal following a public meeting on Feb. 28.
