Latest news with #TOA
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
TOA Wins ASEAN Governance Award for Third Year
TOA Paint (Thailand) Public Company Limited (TOA), Thailand's leading decorative paint brand and a prominent provider of environmentally friendly construction chemicals and building materials, has once again been recognised with the prestigious 'ASEAN Asset Class PLCs' award based on the 2024 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) assessment. This marks the third consecutive year that TOA has earned this distinction, solidifying its standing among the 74 Thai listed companies recognised in the 2024 cohort. The award ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the auspices of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 'ASEAN Asset Class PLCs' award is reserved for companies scoring 97.50 or higher on the ACGS, which evaluates listed firms across six ASEAN countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The initiative aims to elevate corporate governance standards across the region, enhance transparency and accountability, and align ASEAN markets with international benchmarks recognised by global investors. It also supports deeper regional integration under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). TOA continues to set the benchmark as a model organisation in ASEAN, reflecting its steadfast commitment to good governance, corporate responsibility, and long-term stakeholder value. The company's repeated recognition underscores its strategic focus on sustainable development and ESG-driven operations.
Bangkok Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
TOA Earns Sixth CFO Certification for Sustainability
TOA Paint (Thailand) Public Company Limited, or TOA, continues its journey towards becoming a Net Zero organisation. Most recently, the company received its 'Carbon Footprint for Organization (CFO)' certification for the sixth consecutive year. The certificate was presented to Ms Wipada Nakpairat, Vice President, SHE & Quality Management and Sustainability Division, from Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), with Dr. Natarika Wayuparb Nitiphon, Deputy Executive Director of TGO, also in attendance at the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ). This achievement reaffirms TOA's commitment to its 'Green Mission' policy, advancing its transformation into a truly sustainable green organisation. The company's efforts span the entire value chain, covering upstream and downstream processes, with a focus on all stakeholders and on reducing both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. These include improvements in production, energy usage, transportation, waste management, and the development of eco-friendly products. To date, TOA has received the Global Warming Reduction Label (CFR) for 133 products and Carbon Footprint of Product (CFP) certification for 320 products – making it the manufacturer of certified low-carbon products in Thailand's paint and building materials market. TOA is driving its Green Mission policy through seven key strategies aimed at achieving Net Zero organisational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Two core strategies are already yielding significant results: Green Production – improving energy and fuel efficiency in vehicles and reducing refrigerant leakage. Green Energy – increasing the use of renewable energy, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, and minimizing long-term environmental impacts. The consistent CFO recognition highlights TOA's responsible business practices and environmental leadership. It also enhances stakeholder confidence in the company's ability to protect homes, preserve the environment, and build a sustainable future.
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Six-storey St. Johns St. development faces raft of critiques from Port Moody council at early input
A proposed six-storey mixed-use development in Moody Centre is facing early resistance from Port Moody city council, which criticized the design for being overly dense, poorly integrated with the streetscape, and failing to address the city's housing and environmental goals. The application for 2805–2811 St. Johns St. seeks to rezone two single-family lots to allow for 52 residential units and approximately 15,000 square feet of commercial space. The developer is targeting a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.84 – just shy of the 4.0 maximum allowed under provincial transit oriented area (TOA) legislation – but is proposing to deliver that density in six storeys rather than the 12-storeys permitted by the province. Staff warned that cramming such density into a mid-rise form on a narrow 17,400-square-foot lot poses serious challenges for livability, tree retention, and conformity with city planning goals. Council agreed. 'This is a lot of building on a very small lot,' said Coun. Kyla Knowles. 'It doesn't really activate the pedestrian experience at all.' The building would stretch nearly lot-line to lot-line with minimal setbacks – 0.6 metres from the eastern edge – raising concerns about shadowing, privacy, and poor transitions to adjacent properties. The site is currently flanked by a townhouse complex and single-detached homes, many of which have recently been built or are designated for lower-scale infill under the city's official community plan (OCP). The project's sheer size was also flagged by Coun. Samantha Agtarap, who said the amount of density on a 40 metre wide lot was 'not appropriate.' Agtarap, who chaired the city land use committee for the application, summed up their committees comments as: 'too much density and massing for too little space.' 'It just really doesn't seem to fit,' she said. A previous version of the application, submitted in 2023, proposed an all-commercial six-storey building. That proposal attempted to retain a massive red oak tree at the rear of the lot but was ultimately withdrawn. The new proposal reintroduces residential units but eliminates the tree, prompting sharp criticism from multiple councillors. Staff estimated the oak – now slated for removal to accommodate the underground parkade – may be more than a century old and one of the oldest specimen trees in Port Moody. It became a flashpoint in council's broader discussion around green space and climate resilience. 'For me, a hard line is that tree,' said Coun. Amy Lubik, noting she liked the previous application better. 'When we talk about heritage, we often talk about heritage homes, but that is definitely a heritage tree.' Lubik and others said the current form runs counter to the city's goals of enhancing the pedestrian experience along St. Johns Street. Coun. Haven Lurbiecki noted the units themselves were slightly larger than average, and that she would usually support this type of housing, she said there needs to be better alignment with city guidelines, particularly when it comes to building massing and form. She took issue with the lack of stepping back the top floors, despite its emphasis in the OCP. 'If this application had like 50 percent three-bedroom units or 50 percent below market, I think my thoughts would be different in terms of trade offs. But I'm not seeing any trade offs here at all,' she said. 'Follow our guidelines and our policies and our bylaws and our housing needs and come back – it's really that simple.' The developer's application included six below-market rental units, falling short of the 15 percent minimum typically required under Port Moody's inclusionary zoning policy. The applicant is requesting an exemption, submitting a financial pro forma arguing the project is not economically viable with more subsidized units. Staff said this claim would require third-party verification, at the developer's expense. Knowles noted few of council's concerns from the previous application were implemented, which she said was 'disappointing.' 'I understand the economic constraints being faced by literally everyone right now, but to not even make the smallest effort to include any inclusive or any affordable housing or below market housing in a mixed use residential building is just not going to fly in this day and age.' However, she added that she appreciated the applicant's transparency in sharing financial details, and cautioned against treating developers as 'Disney movie villains.' 'Community partners that support a lot of the activities and events that we enjoy every day, and they have people to pay, and are a business like any other.' Coun. Callan Morrison was more open to the design, citing that provincial TOA rules make council's ability to negotiate more challenging. He argued that if councillors were unwilling to lose the tree, they needed to be open to more height instead to allow retention of green space. '(The province) wants housing, and they have made it very, very restrictive on our council and on our community as to what can go in certain areas and what we can push back on,' Morrison said. 'They don't care about the townhouse next door or the old historic building right behind it that has its view being blocked. 'In TOA areas, the neighbourhood context does not matter.' Knowles noted, however, that she's heard that six-storey forms are actually more financially feasible under the industry's current conditions. City staff had previously advised the developer to assemble a third lot to meet minimum size and frontage requirements under the current zoning. But the developer proceeded with just two lots, resulting in what staff called an 'orphaned' parcel next door and a building that fails to meet minimum frontage, density and tree coverage goals. As the project was brought forward for early input only, no formal votes on the rezoning were taken. The developer will be expected to revise the application before proceeding to first reading. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
18-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
6-storey mixed-use proposal in Moody Centre faces questions over size, trees, and affordable units
A new proposal to build a six-storey mixed-use building just steps from the Moody Centre SkyTrain station has been submitted to city hall, though staff caution the project may be trying to fit too much into too small a site. The application for 2805–2811 St. Johns St., which aims to rezone two single-family lots into a 52-unit mixed-use development, was before Port Moody's land use committee on June 2. Under the province's newly legislated Transit Oriented Areas (TOA), the developer is allowed to build up to a 12-storey building. The application includes 15,317 square feet, of commercial space at ground level, topped by five floors of strata housing, and a rooftop amenity patio. Six of the units are being proposed as below-market rentals, along with 71 underground parking spaces. Although the developer is opting for less height, they are pushing the upper bound for maximum allowable density. The floor area ratio, which measures a project's total floor space against its lot size, it set at 3.84, which approaches the 4.0 limit permitted under the TOA guidelines. City planners say this attempt to hit maximum density without exceeding the six-storey form has created 'significant challenges,' including massing impacts on neighbouring lots, a lack of sufficient open space, and conflicts with urban forestry goals. 'Trying to achieve the density of a 12-storey building within a six-storey envelope makes it very difficult to meet design and livability standards,' the staff report stated. City policy calls for a minimum lot size of 25,833 sq. ft. and 197 feet of frontage for this scale of development. However, the proposed project covers 17,427 sq. ft. with 131 feet of frontage – both well below those thresholds. Staff say this could orphan adjacent lots, making redevelopment more difficult in the future. The report recommended acquiring a neighbouring lot – particularly to the east – to achieve a better fit and reduce design impacts. The building's rear access along St. Andrews Street is also a concern. Instead of contributing to the city's vision for a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly corridor, the project proposes using much of its frontage for parkade access, loading bays, and a transformer. Environmental concerns are also raising red flags. City staff pointed out that the proposal includes no plans to preserve mature trees or incorporate new canopy coverage, falling short of Port Moody's Urban Forestry Strategy. Of particular concern is a red oak tree at 2805 St. Johns, believed to be over 100 years old and potentially at risk. The inclusion of affordable housing also falls short of city expectations. Although the applicant says six units meet the 15 percent requirement, staff say the calculation is based on 'sellable area,' not total residential floor area as required. By the city's measure, only 11.5 percent is being offered. Despite these concerns, city staff acknowledged the proposal aligns with the area's Official Community Plan (OCP) designation and brings active commercial frontage to St. Johns Street. The project is in the early stages and will undergo a more detailed review by staff and council before any decisions are made. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Substantially correct': B.C. housing minister backs Port Moody's MLA after dispute with local council, again
For the second time, B.C.'s Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon has backed Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac against criticisms from Port Moody council. City council recently released two letters penned by Mayor Meghan Lahti – one addressed to Kahlon and the other to Glumac – in which she criticized her MLA's remarks at a previous council meeting and requested clarification from the province. Lahti said that Glumac's statements 'created significant confusion' about the Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) legislation and Port Moody's obligations under provincial housing reforms. 'Your messages have been widely interpreted by the community as confirmation that the TOA is not relevant to Port Moody,' Lahti wrote to Glumac. '(This has) placed the municipality in an awkward position . . . and called into question both council and staff's housing legislation implementation actions.' It is not the first time Port Moody council has bypassed their MLA to complain to provincial higher ups. In October 2023, Lahti wrote to Premier David Eby , asking the party to rein in Glumac after he suggested a critical development could sacrifice parking to secure affordable housing. Like the previous letter-writing spat , Kahlon largely backed Glumac. In a June 2 letter to Mayor Lahti, Kahlon said the MLA's presentation and response to council were 'substantially correct.' 'It is my understanding that MLA Glumac was only given five minutes by council to present on very complex topics and subsequently issued a letter to mayor and council to provide more information to build on these topics.' Port Moody council had invited Glumac to speak at their March 25 meeting, but did not allow him to utilize a prepared slideshow presentation, nor exceed the five-minute time limit imposed on public delegations. A contentious hour-long conversation followed where the MLA was prodded with questions, criticism and skepticism over provincial policy. In her letters, Lahti raised concern over Glumac's statements at the meeting, which she said omitted key legal and planning nuances. 'While the statements he made may appear accurate in isolation, he has left out several important details that do not consider the full context of the legislative requirements,' Lahti wrote to Kahlon. Four of Glumac's comments were highlighted as being problematic: City staff were forced to seek immediate clarification from the ministry following the meeting, according to Lahti, adding that Glumac's statements cast doubt on whether Port Moody needed to follow certain provincial requirements. Lahti also criticized Glumac for publicly posting his presentation slides online, and requested he remove them. She claimed the slides lacked provincial branding, contradicted clarifications Glumac made later in a follow-up letter on April 15, and questioned whether ministry staff had authorized them. She emphasized that the city's planning process had been paused in late 2023 to incorporate requirements in the new housing legislation, and the city was now under pressure to meet a year-end deadline for completing its OCP update. Several councillors praised the public release of Lahti's letters on May 27, with one councillor describing Glumac's statements as 'misinformation.' 'This council has mentioned, recently and frequently, facts are important, and when incorrect information or disinformation is shared in our community, it has the effect of eroding public trust and causing confusion among our residents,' said Coun. Kyla Knowles. 'Now that (the letters) have been released, they outline which and when misinformation was shared.' In his June 2 response, Minister Kahlon addressed each of Lahti's concerns in detail and confirmed that municipalities have the authority to impose affordable and rental housing requirements in TOAs through inclusionary zoning, but only after conducting a feasibility analysis. He clarified that TOA legislation applies to all parcels where residential use is permitted, including mixed-use commercial zones, but does not apply to lands where residential use is secondary to industrial or agricultural use. On the question of whether minimum densities should be used as a planning tool, Kahlon explained that while the TOA framework sets mandatory baselines, municipalities must still take additional steps (such as pre-zoning land) for these areas to count toward their 20-year housing capacity. Kahlon affirmed that even if a city meets its overall housing targets, TOA development applications must still be considered, and councils cannot use the OCP to avoid TOA obligations. That said, he added councils do retain full discretion over proposals that exceed TOA minimums. For his part, Glumac told the Dispatch his presentation was constrained by time but was meant to outline the balance of mandatory requirements and municipal discretion. He added he wants to work with council on housing opportunities, based: 'on a foundation of mutual respect, that puts the needs of our constituents above all else.' 'While provincial housing legislation will have effects on Port Moody, the legislation and its requirements provide both powerful tools and allow for flexibility that afford council significant control over ensuring development in the community meets our needs,' Glumac said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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