Editor: I am writing to thank the Langley Township Council for having the courage to lead rather than just react to the noise from the community.
The recent decisions regarding Fort Langley development took foresight to look at needs of the community for the next 10-30 years rather than the next 2-5 years.
Fort Langley is a passionate community that seems to be nearly equally divided on almost every issue.
The Coulter-Berry building will house retail, services and living space to keep the community moving forward for the next few years. All communities must do this to survive and prosper rather than fade into oblivion.
The reasons that attracted people to the community 30 years ago are not the same reasons that will attract future residents. The underlying philosophy is similar but is constantly evolving and that needs to be accounted for.
We don’t have gaslights or rooftop antenae anymore, as they have been replaced by more effective technologies.
The same applies to commercial buildings as well.
The old Reid Garage is an eyesore now but served a purpose in the community when it was built. This development keeps the community intent much better than the existing Fort Mall does. Coulter-Berry is not a development that looks anything like Walnut Grove or Willoughby, it looks like Fort Langley. We cannot get stuck in a time warp or we will be the next Barkerville.
Some would like that, but I would like to live in a thriving community not a living museum.
It is interesting that many of the people opposed to the development did not attend the open house and thought signing a petition would carry their opinion to a council to enact their wishes.
The council had input over many months from many sources long before the public hearings and unverified petitions arrived on their doorstep. Council had the fortitude to look at the long term and not just what would get them elected next time.
If the whole community is going to be deeply involved in every decision, we should have community meetings for every development and not bother with councils or staff.
We hire them for a reason and election time is contract renewal time. We need to look at the long-term benefits provided when we decide whether to renew the contract or not, and the majority have their say then.
I thank the council for visioning what the 20-40 age group will need when they are 50-70 and making it happen.
Brian Holmes
Fort Langley
