Editor: I created both the “Leave Brookswood Alone” Facebook page and blog in September 2012. I did so to alleviate frustration over the Township’s efforts to turn Brookswood into another Willoughby (with all due respect to the Willoughby residents).
When I attended the original so-called “workshop” meeting the Township set up for Brookswood residents, the high-density agenda was immediately apparent when the Township’s AECOM (U.S.-based architecture, engineering, consulting, operations and maintenance) consultant declared in a convincing tone that density “was good for the aquifer” and then had the 400-plus residents form into groups to work on a set of prescribed questions, like we were still in elementary school. The subsequent workshops continued in the same vein and without being honest and direct.
It was heartening when people responded and started to push back against this horrifying agenda, taking action to protect their community. This brought about change. The concerned residents of Brookswood held the Township of Langley government to account and reminded the government that it is here to serve Langley residents, not developers or speculators, many (perhaps most)of whom don’t live here.
Thank you to the Township council for doing the right thing in ultimately choosing not to proceed with a questionable, flawed high-density development plan for Brookswood.
Finally, thank you to the passionate people of Brookswood/Fernridge and Langley, especially Anna, Ken, Leila, Scott, Jackie, Ann-Michelle, Heidi and many other organizers who came up with great ideas and suggestions and worked so tirelessly to ensure the success of “Leave Brookswood Alone.”
Our now close-knit community (further thanks to the Township for this) remains determined to protect the area in which we live.
David Chambers,
Langley
