Editor:
In one of his Q&A responses, mayoral candidate George Harvie stated: “Delta’s distinct neighbourhoods are the strong social fabric of our community. We absolutely need to protect the character of them.”
As CAO in 2003, Harvie is aware of a public hearing that redesignated CD314 lot from agricultural to townhouse residential (Bylaw 6197). The application for the residential bylaw amendment was made by Ron Toigo of Shato Holdings who also owns the Delta Town & Country Inn site to be leased by Gateway for a casino.
The “distinct” residential neighbourhood includes fields, a marina, restaurant, park land and trail which surrounds a farmhouse, farm buildings, two apartment buildings, a townhouse complex and a newly approved development for float homes and single-family houses on a dead-end street. This “distinct” neighbourhood is adjacent to the Delta Town & Country Inn.
Delta’s expression of interest submitted to the BC Lottery Corporation in 2016 claims the casino site was not close to a residential area and the map excluded the neighbourhood. During a Gateway presentation to Delta council this spring, large white street name letters hid the neighbourhood.
Articles in the Optimist stated, “the project won’t be close to homes… was separated from residential neighbourhoods.” Not being close to homes was a key factor in persuading BCLC to accept Delta’s only choice for a casino location and it was Gateway’s biggest selling point. This “distinct” neighbourhood remained invisible until the May 1 public hearing.
Why was council and the public denied important information to help them make a reasonable and informed decision regarding the proposed casino and determine what affect a casino would have on this “distinct” neighbourhood? And why was a casino proposed for these residents’ front yards without directly soliciting their consultation?
Harvie was at a council meeting on Jan. 9, 2017 when a provincial representative provided an update on the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project. He showed that River Road would go under the bridge to connect the River House neighbourhood near the casino to River Road on the west side of Highway 99 for direct access to Ladner neighbourhoods and the village centre.
This proposed through traffic will have a big impact on residential neighbourhoods, especially the “distinct” River House neighbourhood. Why was there no notification or again no consultation with residents regarding their “distinct” neighbourhood?
D. Rainbow
