Editor:
Re: Community continues to change, letter to the editor, July 3
Yes, Mr. McLaren, this community continues to change. Since I've moved here in 1981 I have seen many changes including the Waterford, new apartment buildings, a new private school, the demolition of a couple of schools which made way for new homes, lots of infill development, Tsawwassen Springs development, and, of course, we have yet to witness the development of Century's Northgate or the two new apartment buildings on 12th Avenue, all of which have been approved by Delta council.
I fail to see how one can say that Tsawwassen is stagnating. I wonder what the impact of currently approved but not yet started developments will be on the community and especially on traffic on 56th Street.
While I recognize the right of everyone to express his or her opinion, I agree with previous letter writer Peter White in his criticism. Should development on Southlands ever proceed, which I sure hope not, it will impact those of us who live in Tsawwassen and especially those who must use 56th Street to travel in and out of the community.
It will not impact those who live in Ladner or North Delta. McLaren says that with growth comes a temporary increase in traffic, dump trucks, parking, etc. The proposed housing, commercial, etc. on 20 per cent of the agricultural property Southlands is high density and will not just bring a temporary increase in traffic, dump trucks, parking, etc. It is estimated that 60,000 trucks of fill would be needed before any development can even begin.
This alone means that the increase in traffic will be far from temporary. Since the development itself is estimated to take place over the course of 15 years, this is also hardly temporary A few months of temporary inconvenience in Ladner is nothing compared to what could happen here.
As far as parking, we do not know yet how the development would affect those living on 56th Street or in Boundary Bay, especially as the developer has reduced the parking that is normally allowed for new developments.
I suggest that the proposed development would have many negative effects on those who live near the proposed development and in fact anyone who uses 56th Street.
There are many other concerns, as well, as noted in the seven binders filled with correspondence on display at Winskill Aquatic Centre. Within these binders, I see few names of residents who are anxious for the development to take place.
The property now known as Southlands was purchased when it was in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Although removed from the ALR, the land is still zoned agricultural and in Metro Vancouver's Green Zone.
I believe that the entire property should remain agricultural and put to such uses. It is ideal for soil based organic farming.
Jean Wightman
