Pitt Meadows council has reviewed design plans and funding for its new stand-alone RCMP detachment building, which will cost $21.7 million.

After the May 3 meeting, councilors sent the architect back to the drawing board to change the exterior of the building, saying the proposed look of steel and glass was not the image they wished.

Justin Hart, City Manager for Major Projects, and Bassem Tawfik of KMBR Architects Planners presented the designs for the two-story building. It will be erected on the site of the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery and Sports Building in the 12400 block of Harris Road. The site also removed a 10-metre-wide strip of dirt from the adjacent ballpark.

The council chose not to build underground parking. This would have increased the cost by $5 million, and the RCMP’s requirement for two ramps would take up too many parking spaces to make it viable at that price.

Councilors favored a 1,816 square meter building option, with space to accommodate the bylaws department, police volunteers and future growth.

The staff clearly heard that the council wanted a large building.

Supt. Ridge Meadows RCMP’s Wendy Mehat, and part of the disintegration team, said having bylaws and the RCMP in the same building could be a ‘huge benefit’ when working together on programs. She also talked about the need to have room for growth.

Com. Tracy Miyashita said she would rather build bigger than undertake expensive renovations in the future, and Coun. Gwen O’Connell said council should approve a building large enough to accommodate growth for 50 years.

“This building marks the beginning of our ability to provide our community with more safety, better value for our police dollars, and quality of life,” Coun said. Anena Simpson.

She called the proposed building modern and beautiful, but said it could be found in any city in Canada, and the steel and glass had a “coldness to it.”

“I don’t see the typical small-town Pitt Meadows heritage feeling when I look at this building,” Simpson said, asking for a design with “something that listens a bit to the past and our uniqueness.”

Com. Mike Hayes agreed that steel and glass lack heat. He called out the boxy exterior and said, “I had my fix of industrial buildings at Pitt Meadows.”

Com. Nicole MacDonald said she would like to see more wood or faux wood, and public art could add character to the building.

Staff will return to the board with new plans, which will include a “softer look”, said chief executive Mark Roberts.

On May 10, council will discuss a loan for the police building and a staff recommendation to approve borrowing $20 million from the Municipal Finance Authority over 30 years.

The city will also draw $1.7 million from its reserve fund. Equipment and furniture are included in the budget.

The city’s schedule will see detailed design completed throughout the current year, with construction expected to begin in April 2023 and be completed by March 2025.