Editor:
Re: Surrey residents brace for future, Nov. 8 letters.
I read with interest the letters from David Hutchinson and Sybil Rowe, referring to the rapid changes and growth in Surrey.
I felt it important to add my voice to theirs and the growing chorus of voices in Surrey, expressing concerns about how development is affecting all areas of the municipality now.
My husband and I have attended city council meetings and listened as both sides of the issue state their positions. Residents are quite unified in their concerns about environmental impacts, adequate assessments for roads and schools to accommodate more density and proper foresight regarding appropriate building design to better suit land use and neighbourhood identities.
What stood out to us were the dismissive attitudes of builders and developers determined to push through their plans, regardless of the concerns of the people who live in these areas. At the meeting we attended, it became very clear by the end of the session that council members were already in agreement with the developers.
There were a few minor details to resolve, but the plan was basically going to be rubber-stamped. Citizens left the meeting feeling frustrated and worse. It was little more than a required public ‘show.’
That was close to two years ago, and in the meantime development has run wild in all parts of Surrey. The disappearance of green space and the spread of massive dense development is stunning, to say the least.
We will be relocating early next year to a corner of Surrey that we hope will shield us somewhat from the worst of this, but anywhere you see trees, vacant land and space represents money to greedy developers and the tax-hungry municipality. It will never be enough, until all the green space is gone and residents are left with pathetic little token nature patches or land owned by a few principled holdouts.
When was the last time Surrey actually bought a large parcel of land and turned it into another park, protected in perpetuity from development?
Shame on Surrey city council, shame on developers and shame on the city planning commission for not taking the future into consideration.
We are right now staring at a Surrey version of every mistake ever made in city planning anywhere: traffic gridlock, over-populated schools, parking problems, waste and refuse issues, etc. Congestion like this only leads to friction and conflict for those affected the most. But who cares when there are millions and millions of dollars to be made?
G. Holden, Surrey
