Editor: Anticipating the advent of development in your community can cause unease.
Several anti-development people are lashing out with misinformed letters and on social media.
Most say they are not against development but then attack every aspect of it.
People should look at the OCP map and they will see that the entire west side of the Township from 20 Avenue to the Fraser River has been excluded from the ALR since the 1970s and is scheduled for development.
When you are accustomed to living on acreage or large lots, and plan to stay in the same neighborhood, it’s probably a normal human emotion to become uneasy when contemplating the acreage around you becoming developed.
You realize that your spatial separation is to be shared and you will be expected to make social adjustments respecting greater tolerance of others.
However, some long-time residents have aged, or have health issues, can no longer take care of their large property and just want to sell and downsize or move-on.
It’s not against the law (yet) to sell at an opportune time in the market and make the most of your long-term investment.
Oh, the government still gets you with property transfer taxes, capital gains, CACs and other fees and charges.
It appears some mistakenly expect ‘Community and Neighbourhood Plans’ to magically solve all issues.
These plans basically determine ‘land uses’ on a colour-coded plan with text, but are not intended to rigidly control the sequence of each development. It doesn’t work like that.
Development applications occur when the developer is ready with land acquisition, finances and when logistics and infrastructure are cost effectively feasible. That’s why developments happen sporadically, some here and some over there, eventually it all connects together.
Another point is that the institutional and recreation facilities follow the population growth.
It’s not a case of build all the infrastructure first and they will come.
The good thing is that it happens gradually, which gives us time to adjust and contemplate the merits of each development. It usually takes about 25-35 years for a community to reach build-out — like Walnut Grove and Murrayville.
In my humble opinion, some expect too much of a community or neighbourhood plan.
While a lot of small animals share our subdivided neighbourhoods, they are primarily for humans first.
I get the impression many animal lovers seem to expect them to perform like wildlife sanctuaries to include all animals.
All Metro and Fraser Valley municipal councils are under pressure from academia, urban planners and others to develop higher densities for affordability. It’s in the news media and talk radio daily.
Willoughby was slated for higher density for valid reasons at the time and many families, Millennials, Gen X’ers and seniors like the affordable lifestyle just fine.
In Brookswood/Fernridge, we are bucking the tide, resisting higher densities but nothing is certain in this crazy world of changing market conditions and politics.
Roland Seguin,
Fernridge
