Editor:
I am writing in support of Century Group's proposal for the Southlands.
I feel very strongly that Sean Hodgins' ideas are innovative, creative and a positive step forward for Tsawwassen.
I have lived in Boundary Bay with my husband and four children for almost 10 years. My husband, Kevin, was born and raised in Ladner. He has served on the Delta Hospital board for several years and continues this as well as other volunteer positions within our school and his parents' apartment in Tsawwassen.
His father, Terry Brennan, was also very active in our community for many years, including as deputy chief of police.
Our family looks forward to the day when we will be able to walk or bike to the market square at the Southlands, enjoy the trails and park space, perhaps have a coffee and a snack before purchasing our freshly "grown on the premises" produce for our dinner. What a great afternoon outing for a young family from Boundary Bay, or upper Tsawwassen for that matter.
There has been so much controversy regarding the quality of the farmland in question, but I believe the groups arguing the farmland is spectacular are forgetting about the cost of amending the land in order to produce successful crops.
It seems to me they believe it is Century Group's obligation to take on this huge investment, when in fact it would be easier and much more lucrative for Century to put greenhouses all over the property (I guess I wouldn't need Christmas lights).
I think that people who are against this development are naive to believe and purport that if this proposal is denied, this tract of land will remain the same as it is today. It is wrong to say that consideration of the alternatives left to Century is bullying. It's quite simply economics.
The Southlands proposal is, in fact, not the most profitable venture that could be implemented on this property, but Hodgins has created a plan that would benefit our community much more than his company's bottom line.
Our children would not only be able to grow up to live and work in Tsawwassen, they would want to. This alone would create a better demographic for those of us whose taxes are supporting this community, as well as allowing families to stay together, thereby raising our children generationally.
It takes a village to raise a child. Everyone has heard this saying, and every person I've ever met agrees it is true. This project, to my family and myself, is a village for all of Tsawwassen to share and enjoy.
I thank Hodgins and his team for their generosity and forward thinking. It is my sincere hope that mayor and council will not pass up this truly beneficial opportunity for our community.
Trish Brennan
