Editor: Unlike letter writer Janice Robertson (The Times, Dec. 3) I do not think that Council “made a poor decision” in approving the Coulter Berry building.
After unveiling of plans at an open house in May, 2012 to a very positive public response, it still took until November of that year to obtain Township Council’s approval.
After two nights of listening to submissions for and against the proposal, council voted seven to one in favour.
Some people were happy with the decision, others not.
But referring to this situation by “the way it has divided the town of Fort Langley,” hardly seems to be council’s fault.
The unfortunate result of the heritage hole in the ground was achieved by six people with private interests, fortunate to get a judge who found a process technicality.
There was no public hearing about whether to launch a court challenge. There was no public hearing in the court proceedings.
It seems to me that unveiling plans at an open house, allowing plenty of time for input, then making application for a permit, then waiting for the public hearing to be scheduled, and having two nights for submissions, followed by a council decision is, in fact, going “through proper channels.”
Let’s get a grip, folks. It’s a building we are talking about.
How on Earth did the town survive the council decision, four to three, to approve the Interfor development (now Bedford Landing)?
All those heated arguments with different points of view. I’m sure the council of the day also had that decision resting on their shoulders.
Jonathan Rempel
Fort Langley
