Emotions ran high on both sides as the public hearing on the Southlands development proposal got under way this week.
Held at the gymnasium in the South Delta Recreation Centre, the hearing began with a Monday afternoon session, continuing in the evening following a dinner break. It was scheduled to go for another two days, wrapping up this Wednesday.
If the first day’s proceeding was any indication, the Southlands is as divisive an issue as ever with proponents and opponents vehemently entrenched in their positions.
Following a brief introduction by Century Group president Sean Hodgins and presentation by his architect Patrick Cotter, the first few speakers who managed to sign up early were enthusiastic supporters of the development plan. By the conclusion in the evening, opposition speakers were in the majority by about 10. Most of those who spoke against the plan were Boundary Bay residents.
Having about 200 people in attendance during the afternoon session and another 100 on top of that for the evening portion, Monday’s hearing saw 76 speakers called, but a few weren’t present when the mayor called their name. More who showed up and wanted to speak had to wait until the following day.
A large number of the opponents wore red hats and carried small “no” signs that they waved up and down for the television cameras. Many supporters wore yellow “yes” stickers and some also wore green t-shirts to show support for Century Group.
Although both sides tried to intensely stress their viewpoints to council, the meeting for the most part was civil, but it did get heated at times with occasional jeers and shouting responses.
“The plan is in totally in contrast to the hand-in-heart preservation rule that guides Delta’s future. The proposed development would swamp this corner of Delta forever, paving paradise with a very, very large parking lot,” said Duncan Holmes, later reading a poem.
Opponents leveled familiar arguments against the proposal including the loss of farmland, flood-proofing concerns and traffic. Some even questioned the need for that kind of development, saying Tsawwassen is just fine.
Several pointed to a survey conducted during the Tsawwassen Area Plan process, which had a majority opposed to development on the Southlands, saying the people have already spoken.
Saying the group Southlands the Facts doesn’t represent the majority of Tsawwassen residents, or even have the correct facts, one speaker who was in favour of the Century plan said it’s obvious the property has divided the community. He suggested that Hodgins sell the property to the Tsawwassen First Nation if his proposal is unsuccessful.
Noting Delta has lost many businesses due to a lack of growth over the years, another speaker, Harry Wallace said a segment that refuses any change is discriminating against Hodgins and his company.
Another speaker, though, noted the development is in the wrong location, suggesting more density be added in the town centre.
However, saying she was in favour of homes and not houses, supporter Janice Feldman echoed the call by other speakers for greater housing variety. Saying she was forced to move out of the community due to a lack of housing choice, Shauna Nicole said she would like the opportunity to move back, but a couple of speakers opposed noted there would be no affordable housing but market housing.
Another opponent later countered, “We are not Richmond and we are not Surrey and I hope we will never be.”
Things got heated during debate about the viability of soil-based farming on the property when longtime resident John Savage turned around to speak directly to those wearing the red baseball caps, saying they had no idea what they were talking about. He said he tried to farm the property but was unsuccessful due to the lack of proper irrigation and soil conditions.
Submitting previous petitions and adding a newer one, opponent Richard Kunz criticized council’s leadership, but some supporters were complimentary of council.
Supporter Joan Vanstone was critical of “negative exclusionary” elements that infiltrated Delta, the loudest complainers to any change. She and others were also complimentary of Hodgins, saying they couldn’t find a finer and more devoted person.
Helen Kettle said she had yet to hear one valid reason from opponents to deny the application, drawing scoffs, while an opponent warned that allowing the development would open the floodgates to other applications on farmland.
Saying the entire process has been hostile, another opponent said the community has been divided sharply, a division that will take years to heal.
There was no talk of compromise from either side. Only two speakers Monday suggested scaling back the housing and relocating it to front 56th Street.
