Editor:
Its no secret that Surrey’s out-of-control development fungus is now creeping its way slowly south, as our beautiful trees are getting mowed down daily paving way for new development, and the majority of city council and planners are all in favour of pro-development and sell to the highest bidder.
They even want to change our much-voted-on current OCP to accommodate the developers, which no doubt will be behind-closed-doors, so we will learn about our city’s fate after the fact.
It’s just too bad we could not take lessons from our neighbours in West Vancouver, who have managed to maintain their beautiful seaside community over the years by putting a cap on highrises and big-box office stores, and more recently on cutting trees and building major monster houses out of the norm. It’s refreshing to see a community and their city council working together on such important issues.
Cheryl Berti, White Rock
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I went to an open house for another proposed major development in our community last month. I appreciate the effort and professionalism of the developer, however I feel the project as presented was not fitting for our city.
On behalf of the residents and for the greater good of our city, before council approves any further major developments outside of the current OCP, will you please have neighbourhood plans developed in these areas. Without a plan for the city that is shaped with the input of the residents, it is impossible to get community buy-in or to share a vision for what the city will look like moving forward.
As residents, we deserve the opportunity to participate in the shaping of our city. Spot zoning is not the answer and not in the long-term interest of the residents.
I believe the only way to be fair is for both the developer and the residents to be provided with the vision for our city and require the developer to design and build within those parameters.
Developments such as The Royce and Saltaire are good examples of developments that managed to capture the West Coast feel of our city. To preserve the unique character of our city with balanced, thoughtful developments is what I believe the residents want.
We do not want this city to be a patchwork, but rather a tapestry that flows, works together and showcases the uniqueness of the place we call home.
Start planning and stop spot zoning.
Catherine Ferguson, White Rock
