Editor: Count me in as one of the happy South Delta residents that are excited to see some of the former most productive farmland on this planet turned into a 1.8 million-square-foot shopping destination, headed by Walmart.
I will be able to join the other happy shoppers from all over the Lower Mainland bypassing our local merchants and saving big bucks by shopping at the box stores.
Why bother shopping at the local Rona in Tsawwassen when a really big one will be built next to Walmart? All this may create a bunch of extra traffic for us locals, as a recent engineer's report to Delta council states the traffic generated by the new mall and ferry traffic will overfill Highway 17 between the lights at 56th and 52nd streets, causing backups on our secondary roads.
No need to whine. We can chip away some more farmland, build a few more overpasses and cloverleaves, creating a world class freeway in our backyard. As another traffic study commissioned by the Southlands developer shows, we are not operating our roads at capacity. It's about time we stepped up to the plate and welcomed traffic densities that our neighbours in Richmond, Surrey and Langley are already coping with.
Bring it on. Build another subdivision on farmland in South Delta as well. It's about time we embraced world class status.
Peter Nemeth
