Most on Maple Ridge council didn’t like the idea of building 91 homes on one-acre lots next to the forest at 12420 – 269th St.
Nevertheless, last week they gave final reading to the 162-acre project, which had already been given third reading by the previous council.
“I really don’t like this development,” said Mayor Nicole Read. “It’s outside the urban boundary. I don’t like sprawl.”
But the project was at final reading, earning her vote and that of three other councillors, allowing it to proceed.
If it wasn’t for the fact the application was left over from the previous council and had already reached third reading, Coun. Gordy Robson would have opposed it.
“This application is wrong,” he said. “It shouldn’t be here,” he said calling the development, “typical urban sprawl.
“But on the other hand, these guys have been at this for two years.”
Couns. Craig Speirs, Kiersten Duncan and Corisa Bell opposed the project. Speirs said residents who live in the urban areas will have to pay more proportionally in property taxes to pay for the soft services such as recreation and policing that the suburb will require.
But Coun. Bob Masse said he didn’t know if the project created more of a tax gap than any other suburb.
“It’s going to be a beautiful subdivision.” The development will be comprised of high-end homes that will be good “economic drivers” in the community because of the wealthy residents they will attract, he said.
A numbered development company wants to build the homes in the Blue Mountain area north of Dewdney Trunk Road on land that’s previously been logged.
Cooper and McFadden creeks traverse the property and contain fish, according to an environmental report. But staff say the developers have followed all the conditions.
The subdivision will be connected to Metro Vancouver water, while conservation areas will be set aside for the development.
Bell said many people were opposed to the project during the public hearing and asked if council passed this because it was approved by the previous council, does that mean it will pass other developments just because the past council started the approval process?
“Because our last council supported basically all and any development. So there’s going to be a lot of development applications coming forward.
“I just want to know, do we support urban sprawl outside the urban boundary?”
Third reading was granted in May by the previous council.
‘No’ to 25 homes
Maple Ridge council has defeated a proposal to put 25 homes at 24152 – 112th Ave. because of concerns about the price the city will have to pay to buy land for a nearby neighbourhood park.
The property’s currently intended for school use, but the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school board said five years ago it doesn’t need the land for a school site. Instead, the school district has bought land at 24137 – 104th Ave., where it will build an elementary school once the province provides the money.
But councillors were wary about the plan, which calls for the city to buy some property in order to create a neighbourhood park nearby.
Masse said the two acres was for a school playground. The park is bigger than a typical neighbourhood park, he added.
“As soon as we upzone this . . . we’re going to increase the value of the land that we are later going to purchase.”
