What is the first thought that comes to mind when you read the words “battle” and “developer” in a local newspaper story? We thought so.
Your reader is painted a picture of warring parties “fighting for individual rights at any cost”. Here’s the rest of the story.
There are several responsibilities to be weighed and considered at every zoning hearing. They include the interest of current residents, the interest of future residents in the homes that are planned to be built, and responsibility to ensure that investments in land in the City of Chilliwack, when conducted within the rules and laws enacted by our various governments, are protected. Sometimes this can all get a little lost in any given emotion-packed public hearing.
And what of the owls and the fish? We too share in the wonder and the awe at the incredible design and beauty of salmon spawning and owls roosting (except perhaps the smell of salmon rotting). How much more so when we consider the incredible design and potential in each one of our citizens.
It will always be a worthy debate to consider where the homes for our future citizens should be built. We, our employees, trades and suppliers, also live in this community together with our families, and we too appreciate such local amenities as the Vedder River Rotary Trail. Community based initiatives and projects like this provide us all as a community the opportunity to participate in enhancing and interacting with wildlife and natural beauty as it was intended for us to enjoy.
We are thankful for the opportunity to build fine residential communities as we share our city with more and more residents and the potential that they bring. And we are thankful for leadership and staff at city hall who deal with these issues each and every day. We all need to hear “good job, well done” from time to time, so there’s a fine group of people to think of if you have an extra moment for someone else today.
Larry Les
