Editor, The News:
Once again, Jackson Farm is under threat of succumbing to development.
Just when you thought it was saved (Upper Jackson Farm to be developed, to preserve Lower Jackson Farm as a park), there is a proposal to re-zone the agricultural lot on the southeast corner of 102 Avenue and 244 Street. If the proposal goes through as is, there will be 30 new houses on the current lot, and 1.5 acres of lower Jackson Farm (the park) will become a bioswale (to divert water away from the development).
It seems to me that this deal would favour the developer. If the lot were left as agricultural, drainage wouldn’t be an issue.
As a potential development (at this site) gets larger, the drainage issue becomes larger, therefore it should be the developers responsibility to deal with their own drainage issue if they want 30 units.
My family and friends hope this amendment is voted down and the lot remains agricultural for the sake of lower Jackson Farm and to slow densification in the Albion area until school capacity catches up a little.
The people of Maple Ridge were led to believe their park was safe from encroaching development, but now it may be partially developed (if you call a bioswale developed) and the view to the west altered in a negative way.
The District of Maple Ridge made a wise decision, when it decided to save lower Jackson Farm for future generations to enjoy.
Let’s hope the right decision is made now, and this proposal is voted down.
Sean Orcutt
Maple Ridge