It's why I moved here, so why would I want to see it change?

That's becoming the standard question from homeowners when presented with a development proposal that runs contrary to the status quo.

With Delta pretty much built out, we are seeing more and more redevelopment, yet such projects aren't always in keeping with the neighbourhood in which they're proposed.

The folks in the Highlands area of Tsawwassen posed the question a couple of years ago when Delta was looking to upzone the neighbourhood to townhouses and I suspect those in Marina Garden Estates will do the same should a revised proposal for that development's final phases reach a public hearing.

It's also been happening with a number of smaller proposals where new construction is often far denser than its predecessor.

In many respects, it's a fair question. It stands to reason that people, whose single biggest investment is most likely their home, don't want to see anything change that would compromise its value or their quality of life. People often pick the neighbourhood as much as the home, so it's understandable they would want to see its character preserved.

However, Delta's housing stock is single-family centric, so there's not a lot to choose from for those who either don't want, or can't afford, something in the vicinity of 2,000 square feet and north of half a million bucks. The land to accommodate smaller, less expensive housing doesn't exist, leaving those tasked with ensuring we have a well rounded community in a bit of a quandary.

Civic politicians and planners have dipped their toes in those waters but given the frigid response, they've been limited to acknowledging the situation exists and not much else. They recognize empty nesters who want to remain in the community have few housing choices and that a detached home, a staple of families here in decades past, is out of the reach of many of today's young families, yet the pushback they get in trying to do something about it thwarts any well-intentioned plans they might favour.

Sooner or later, however, something's got to give. Either we figure out a way to accommodate all ages and income levels or we'll end up with a disjointed community, one where the middle age rules and the young and the old are left to fend for themselves.

I understand that no one wants to see their neighbourhood change, but at the same time, nothing stays the same forever for a reason.