Editor:
Monday evening's Delta council meeting endorsed the meaning of public involvement in affairs of the community by a good turnout on issues pertaining to the Southlands development.
Civic staff provided an excellent and comprehensive review of public meetings, petitions and written comments submitted by Delta's residents toward the changing plans of this development.
After many years of discussions, the Southlands issue still presents a dilemma of ideas, proposals and opinions that seem unable to convince a majority of the public that turning this agricultural land into a housing community is a good idea.
To further complicate matters, our changing climate and influx of industrial growth only makes a decision more complex and difficult. This situation is not unlike scientific discoveries, where the more that is learned, the more that is up for question.
It seems that council is enabling the developer to continue with new proposals and ideas in an effort to find an application that is acceptable to the citizens of the area and the district.
This, of course, is at the expense of the developer and the taxpayer, since each change submitted must be evaluated and organized by Delta's staff before presentation to council.
The big question is will council's final decision be based on the majority of public opinion or will it be based on an evaluation by council members that, in their opinion, is deemed to be the best for the community and for the future of the Lower Mainland's citizens?
