Editor:
I have been a resident of Tsawwassen for 20 years and have no connections with the Century Group.
However, I have attended many of the meetings concerning the development of the Southlands, hosted both by Century and the Corporation of Delta.
I believe that if Delta council and/or the board of Metro Vancouver were soliciting developers to submit a plan for the Southlands, I would expect the Century Group to be at the top of the list.
Century has considerable investment in Tsawwassen.
It has an excellent reputation for the development work it has done here.
Its executives live in Tsawwassen. They have a commitment to making Tsawwassen successful and a better place to live. They have supported the community.
If the Century Group has made a mistake on the Southlands development, it has been too considerate, trying to meet all reasonable needs.
Unfortunately, this is costly in time, in development costs and in concessions to focused groups that will never be satisfied save for their own agenda, regardless on the effect on other residents.
This will have an impact on those of us who in the future might be interested in downsizing, yet enjoying living in Tsawwassen.
I think the prior plan was better than the last plan, and unnecessary concessions have been made to an insignificant yet influential group that will increase the costs for individuals wanting to live in the development and decrease Delta's tax revenue.
Tsawwassen will change, with or without this development. A successful development has the potential to make Tsawwassen a more "independent" community with services and facilities dedicated to meeting the needs of locals.
Rejecting the development will continue to make Tsawwassen a marginal place to do business, facilitating expansions in Ladner and the TFN that will be less convenient and not focused on the needs of Tsawwassen residents, thus decreasing the value of living in this unique community.
If anything, the Century Group proposal prior to this one was too good to be true. I was shocked council did not embrace it and enthusiastically recommend it to Metro Vancouver.
It provided a unique community concept that appealed to me and many of my friends that live in Delta that are seeking more affordable, simpler accommodations, yet in a rural setting with access to local shopping and the waterfront.
As a "long time resident" of Tsawwassen, I take exception to the biased information I find disseminated by small groups of residents, many of whom I understand are already living on land with equivalent agricultural opportunities and flood risks.
In our "coffee session" in Tsawwassen, the concern is often expressed that the group appears to have the sympathy, encouragement and possibly guidance from some key players in the Corporation of Delta.
I recommend the Corporation of Delta enthusiastically approve this, or better yet, the prior proposal for the development of the Southlands and recommend its rapid approval to the board of Metro Vancouver.
Bill Sharkey
