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Commission approves rezoning and design review for GO Transit station expansion at Pearl Avenue
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a zone change to Central Mixed Use and granted a conditional use permit and special area design review to allow GO Transit to expand its transit center with a new public restroom, waiting area and bus platform; funding is primarily from ARPA/CARES Act allocations, staff said.
The Planning Commission approved a package of actions — a zone change, a conditional use permit and special area design review — to allow GO Transit to expand the transit center on Pearl Avenue. The expansion will add a new public restroom and waiting area building and a new bus platform, allowing boarding off the street and potential future service expansions, staff said.
Staff recommended rezoning two city‑owned parcels from Institutional to Central Mixed Use (CMU) to allow the parcels to be consolidated and accommodate the proposed public building and platform. Staff noted the CMU zoning is consistent with neighboring parcels and that the proposed project meets setback and design requirements for CMU. GO Transit proposes to demolish an existing office at 222 Pearl Avenue to construct the restroom/waiting area and to add a bus platform west of that building.
Staff said the project has no minimum parking requirements in CMU and that existing plantings would be preserved or replaced. The department recommended approval of the CUP and the special area design review; building elevations show red brick facades, beige metal siding and stone cladding at the primary entrance to match existing site materials. An applicant representative said majority funding for the project comes from federal sources (primarily ARPA, with CARES Act funds noted) and that the expanded platform will allow inner‑city bus operators to board off the street and could accommodate a potential Greyhound affiliate in the future.
Commissioners asked about restroom hours and maintenance. Staff said public restrooms will be open during transit service hours (about 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday) and that the transit department has daily cleaning service; they are coordinating with police and community service officers for monitoring and security. The package of land‑use actions was approved unanimously.
