Some would say I'm just a bad loser, but I say, as many residents of Marina Gardens do, that we fought a good fight, must accept the decision, but we'll never feel the decision was the correct one.
Who knows, in 10 years when the project is completed, we may have to eat crow, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
The decision to approve Polygon's application for the final phase of the Marina Garden Estates neighbourhood may go down as one of the poorest decisions ever made by a Delta council. I firmly believe the impact on the neighbourhood will be extensive and Ladner in general is in for a big surprise.
In the 1995/96 era, the council of the time, the current land owner, and a committee of the Marina Gardens residents sat down and created a development plan that was accepted by all parties involved. The present Marina Gardens neighbourhood is the end result of those meetings.
The neighbourhood is one of the nicest in the Lower Mainland and we, the residents, are pleased to be a part of it and the Ladner community in general.
Unfortunately as of July 15, we are faced with a dramatic change. The goal posts have been moved and we, the current homeowners, had very little opportunity to be involved in the process.
It is interesting to note that with invitations to meet at any time convenient, only two councillors could find time in their very busy days to meet or visit with our residents and hear our side of the story. Councillors Sylvia Bishop and Ian Paton both found time and they both rejected the application. Efforts to have meaningful dialogue with the others never materialized.
Stan Lawson
President Marina Gardens Homeowners Association
