We are on Day 3 of the Southlands public hearing, but my deadline is Monday, so I can't comment on the proceedings. The best I can do is share what I plan to say, so here goes: Mayor Jackson, members of council, thank you for your time tonight.
I believe that the prototypes, the concepts, the drawings and the proposals for the Southlands have clouded a key issue - why should this land have its designation changed? The land was acquired as farmland - that's what was purchased, that's what you have. To change the designation has to come with complete agreement from the community, and will likely include significant concessions, which I don't believe we have today.
But let me put this in a different context.
When I bought my house, I really wanted a movie theatre. I looked around, and didn't see enough movie theatres. I figured, over time, I could ask for a change in the designation, which is my right to ask.
I figure there are lots of people who would love to come to my movie theatre. I'll attract them from all around Vancouver. I may even get people from others areas saying, "Hey, a movie theatre! That would be great! Build it over there."
But my house isn't in an area designated for movie theatres, so you'll want to hear from my neighbours. My neighbours will tell you they won't like the traffic, the parking and the 30,000 truckloads of popcorn that I'll bring in. They probably won't want me to have a movie theatre.
And you might ask me, "Brad, there are a lot of people who don't want your movie theatre. What would make them happy?" I'd probably reduce the number of seats, make them more comfortable and maybe throw in some free popcorn.
But it's still a movie theatre. Unless I make enough concessions that my neighbours then say, "OK, I won't oppose your movie theatre," they will speak out against it.
And if they speak out against it in large enough numbers, you won't let me open my movie theatre, in the place where my house, the house I originally bought, stands. You won't change my designation, just because I want it changed, unless I get complete support from my community. I'm concerned that, for the six years people have been writing and speaking and signing petitions, that all of that feedback is now being ignored. I'm concerned that, except for one time, no one on council has publicly said to Century Group, "Gee, there still seems to be a lot of opposition since the Mayor's Summit - what can be done to change that?" When Surrey was considering a big casino project last year, 120 speakers were heard, and then Surrey council rejected the proposal. At the time, there was speculation that Delta might be the next location. Yet I heard in an interview on CKNW that the last time Delta looked at a casino application "people came out in droves against it."
I think I'm safe in saying people have also come out in droves against this proposal, just like they would for my movie theatre.
One way or another, this is coming to an end. And after six years, it's about time. Then let the healing begin.
