Editor, The News:
Re: Albion parking issue put on hold (The News, March 17).
While I understand the interest in providing more facilities for our young people to play field sports, I am once again struck by the lack of planning for the Albion and flats areas of our community.
Every day it seems we see the approval of row after row of townhouses and single-family housing units in our area. We have also recently seen an announcement regarding a new school in the 104 Avenue-240th Street area which, while desperately needed, is once again tied to the seemingly relentless approval of housing developments in the area.
I invite you to consider taking a more balanced approach to development, one that is connected to a neighbourhood development plan, featuring consultation with stakeholders who reside or do business in the area.
While the $500,000 that has been previously set aside for the Albion field project, I hope that you will not make decisions based on a concern for losing the money.
Instead, I would hope that you would ensure:
• the project serves the needs of the community and that there is a demonstrated need for this project that is greater than other priorities in our area;
• this is the best location for a field, based on the demographic profile of this region and others in Maple Ridge and the availability or lack thereof such fields in other parts of our community;
• if there are neighbourhood impacts that will occur if the project proceeds, please identify these, discuss these with stakeholders and look to find solutions that address these concerns;
• there is a significant improvement in transit services to and from the area;
• the traffic and parking issues that are already evident in our neighbourhood and which will be made significantly worse with the new school and the huge number of housing units that are being built, will be understood and addressed.
While I hope you will consider these thoughts, I would also invite you to resist approving more housing developments.
I know that the lure of the funds that accompany such developments is tempting, but it would be wonderful to see you take a more balanced approach to development that would see us really build our community.
For example:
• Attracting new commercial and industrial development that can reduce the tax burden in homeowners and bring new and better jobs to our city.
Some imagination, passion and commitment to economic development is long overdue.
More local jobs would also mean greater opportunities for people to live, work and play in their home town, whole decreasing the need for commuting.
• Requiring new housing developments to include the associated commercial and other development that will help build a real sense of community and allow people to shop in their neighbourhood.
New development proposals should also be accompanied by an impact study that assesses new traffic projections and other pulls on our existing infrastructure.
Finally, please consult with your key stakeholders, your homeowners in the region.
It’s not enough to slap up a proposed for development sign and hope that nobody calls.
If a proposed development is sound, builds community and is well-balanced, it should stand on its own merits.
Martin Wyant
Maple Ridge