Editor: Have we forgotten the history of the Willoughby OCP and the provincial proposal for 208 Street?
It seems that during an election campaign, people’s memories become conveniently vague. The Willoughby OCP has been in the works since before the 1990s. The many neighbourhoods and excellent designs for green space and the concept of a“walking friendly” area were well-considered by former Township planner Terry Lyster.
There were many community meetings and opportunities for input from the public over the past 20-plus years, as the OCP took shape.
Each neighbourhood plan has been accompanied by many more community meetings and “readings” before approval.
There really is a coherent development process in the planning department of the Township of Langley. Now, years later, people forget that there has been due process.
Sure, there are growing pains — general disruption, construction impediments and more car traffic as the area grows.
TransLink hasn’t been very helpful in reducing the number of cars on the road. As the province developed the Carvolth Exchange, TransLink did not provide community shuttle service to the commuters of the rapidly growing Willoughby area — hence the traffic congestion.
There is no bus service east of 200 Street between Highway 1 and 68 Avenue, which takes in most of Willoughby.
Also of note, a few years ago the province proposed that 208 Street become a secondary truck route. With the funding support of the provincial government, the whole road would have developed into four lanes. What happened?
Many of the residents were up in arms about the proposal and it was rejected. Now we have the piecemeal widening of 208 Street, a block at a time. It is widened as it is developed (as part of the developer’s obligation) — hence the mess that it is.
To the politicians I say, please check the history of the Willoughby OCP and remember the good proposals that have come. Some have gone by the wayside.
No single politician can claim to be a saviour. Several mayors and many councillors have gone before you and tried to make the best decisions for Langley.
Holly Stermshnig,
Langley
