Editor, The News:
Re: Hammond Rd. property split in 4 (The News, Feb. 9).
Many thanks to Mayor Don MacLean and Couns. John Becker and Doug Bing for doing the right thing and opposing the rezoning on Hammond Road, which passed with the votes of Couns. Bruce Bell, Tracy Miyashita, Gwen O’Connell and Deb Walters.
The larger lots on the south side of Hammond Road between Blakely and South Bonson and the community should not be abused by muddle-headed thinking. They are located on a very high traffic route that should not be bastardized by small-lot development.
There is no rear lane access to properties along Hammond Road, yet four councillors thought it made sense to put four new homes on midget lots and at the T-intersection of North Bonson and Hammond Road, no less.
Obviously not enough was learned from the subdivision of larger lots into two on the north side of Hammond Road in the 19300 block. At that time, we conducted traffic counts and had the support of all but one property owner in opposition. That council ignored us – the people who live on Hammond Road. Today, we live with more driveways, more vehicles needing to park along and to turn onto and off Pitt Meadows’ busiest single-family street.
My neighbours across the street can most often not see cyclists and higher speed westbound traffic as they leave their driveway because the adjacent small-lot houses need to park several vehicles on Hammond Road. We knew this could happen and said so. council did not listen.
I’m paying attention and I hope others are too – planning, zoning and rezoning require very careful consideration. Hammond Road is not just any other street. If some councillors can’t respect the differences, they should be replaced.
F. G. Higgs
Pitt Meadows