August 8 Optimist Articles
There were a couple of articles in the August 8 edition of the Delta Optimist which related to the Southlands. In the first, Sean Hodgins speaks to positive polling results.
In the second, the question of Density as a discussion point amongst TAPC is brought up. Both articles were written by Sandor Gyarmati.
Comments
Billy Mitchell Letter
Billy Mitchell had this to say in the Delta Optimist
Doug Bolen Letter
Doug Bolen had some interesting insights that were published in the October 4 Delta Optimist
September 9 Delta Optimist
A few references to the Southlands in the September 9 Delta Optimist including comment from Debbie McBride, and letters from Wendy Wood, Bob Orrick , Lynn Kemp, and Tanya and Gerald Schoenroth
What are your thoughts?
Mike Schneider
Responses to Recent Letters
Responses to Recent Letters in the Optimist and the Leader
Letter from Wendy Wood to the Optimist – Sept. 9, 2009
“24 supposedly impartial citizens…who dutifully parrot his personally held beliefs that development will save us and lack of it will sink us”
No one parroted these views. It was only after months and months of study and research that these beliefs became crystal clear and Sean’s views never dominated the debates and discussions.
“...(no)...little group of NIMBYs who didn’t want anyone here”
If you believe there is no “little group of NIMBYs who didn’t want anyone else here” then why is the diversity of our community with respect to age, ethnicity, and race so far below that of other neighbouring communities? Tsawwassen has the reputation of being a “Little Rhodesia”, which is not deserved in my view, but persists because of our perceived lack of openness to new immigrants and others in need, and our continued whining over so many projects that have been “dumped” into our community for the benefit of Canada and British Columbia.
“(The Southlands is) excellent agricultural land”
This is just plain wrong and was proven as such during the work of the Southlands Community Planning Team. The land is not excellent – that is why it has become an orphan in the context of farming! It is true that parts of it are excellent and those parts are planned to be retained for community urban agricultural activities.
“Cannon Beach has a population of 1,600 residents. Whatever is causing it to be a more vibrant community than Tsawwassen with a population of about 20,000, (it) isn’t having more people”
While the permanent population of Cannon Beach is only 1,600, as a tourist destination with many, many summer homes, its population increases annually by about 7-10 times this level. So the comparison of Tsawwassen to Cannon Beach by Sean Hodgins is a valid one – and even more so in the context that a permanent settlement should have more vibrancy than a transient one.
(added after the silly letter from someone from Ottawa on vibrancy) - I find it hard to understand how anyone can find a negative in the concept of a vibrant town centre. Vibrancy can mean different things to different people - bars and night clubs are one form of vibrancy - but what about art galleries and museums - what about arts and crafts - there are many ways in which a vibrant community can be achieved and it should be considered a positive goal - not a negative one.
Letter from Tanya and Jerald Schoenroth to the Optimist – Sept 9, 2009
“We strongly oppose any redesignation of the Southlands from agriculture to anything permitting residential or commercial development and do not support any proposals to enlarge the size of our community”
By not growing, Tsawwassenites doom themselves to continue our trend into decline. We have an obligation to participate in addressing the needs of the expected 2,000,000 increase in the population of the Lower Mainland over the next two decades.
Letter from Z. Lathan and M. Stec to the Optimist, Sept. 9, 2009
“Can our sewage & water systems handle growth?”
This a great question. All new developments must address continued and continuing sewage and municipal waste disposal services in the total area. The Southlands development offers an opportunity to install the most modern options to recycle waste and recover energy on site as well as minimize the need for added service requirements. The desperate upgrading of the surface waste water system at the 12th Ave. dike will certainly be delayed and be much more expensive without Southlands development.
Letter from Lynn Kemp to the Optimist – Sept 9, 2009
“Perhaps because there used to be a theatre in Tsawwassen, but it’s now a supermarket parking lot owned by Century Group. There used to be a bowling alley in the Tsawwassen Centre Mall but it was sacrificed by Century Group.”
Century Group did not “run” any of these businesses nor did they “run them out” of the Town Centre Mall. The demise of these businesses is totally indicative of the lack of sustainable planning in our community. These closures are symptoms of a failing community and more businesses will close if we don’t begin to plan for some growth.
Personal Attacks on Sean Hodgins
While one may have differing views on the development plan details, one thing the NIMBYS have completely wrong is the personalization of their arguments about the Southlands onto Sean Hodgins. Sean Hodgins does not deserve in any way shape or form, such personal attacks. He is a businessman and citizen who truly loves his community and wants to see it become a better place to live. Disagreeing with his opinion is one thing, but there is no need to reduce the debate to the incredible level of ignorance that the naysayers have chosen to do. Century Group has always stepped forward to help out our local organizations. The company’s generosity towards Delta Hospital is unrivalled by any other single organization within or without the community. The company was there when the Library needed support. They have supported numerous Sports organizations. Free access for the next 20 years has been arranged for the Earth-Wise Society to operate on the Southlands. On and on, Century Group has helped this community and despite these disingenuous attacks from a vocal but ever-diminishing minority, I’m sure Sean will continue to provide leadership and funds for groups in our community.
John Meech
Letters and commentary in the October 31 Delta Optimist
There was lots to say about the Oct 24 TAPC meeting and the Southlands in the Oct 31 Delta Optimist. Of note was Sean Hodgins response Wendy Holm's ideas..... "what she is proposing isn't something new, it's been talked about before,".
Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison described synergies with "yes" and "no" support in her community comment, Danny Epp was critical of Holm's ideas, and Karel Ley asks the public to bore a little more deeply in to the proposals thus far
Letters in response to Aug 8 Articles
Ed Ries weighed in on the Aug 8 "Skinny Streets" article in his Aug 12 letter to the Delta Optimist.
Peter Dandyk explains the notion here as published on my blog www.southdeltaportal.ca:
" The Long and Winding Road.."
Some clarifications to "Skinny Streets" :
1. Properly designed Skinny Streets do not impact the traffic volumes of those streets. They enhance safety, provide better pedestrian environments and create less negative environmental impacts. By eliminating many acres of relentless asphalt, the also preserve valuable farmland and/or provide more space for parks.
2. Community Collector Roads like 56th Street have to be treated differently from the Community Roads but they can also be significantly improved - without reducing and in fact often increasing volume throughput.
3. Skinny Streets by definition place pedestrians and neighbourhoods - and the safety of our children - ahead of the automobile. By their design, they maintain volumes; slow traffic to 35 km; and they help create attractive, liveable neighbourhoods.
4. The acres of asphalt saved do not go into increased density and more houses. On the Nanaimo project it went directly into preserving valuable natural features - like saving stands of Arbutus and Garry Oaks - and preserving watercourses. All of the 'saved land from the 40% reduction in paving ' went into community Amenity spaces in the form of Parks and Natural areas.
5. Arguably the most popular area in Tsawwassen - Beach Grove - has a 'form' of Skinny Streets. People love the area; real estate values are good; kids play safely on the streets; neighbours interact and cars 'naturally' drive at a maximum of 35 km. Our notion of Skinny Streets looks to enhance and improve on thses notions to create livable neighbourhoods.
6. Skinny Streets are only one part of a comprehensive approach to Greener, more sustainable, community design.
7. Finally, Skinny Streets create a safer environment for bicycles by reducing the dangerous interface conflicts of parked cars and unpredictable opening doors.
Skinny streets are part of an overall qualitative reconsideration of how we build our communities. The goal is to enhance the livability of our neighbourhoods while fully and effectively addressing the needs of vehicles.
56th Street is a thoroughly unpleasant environment for pedestrians. It is unsafe to cross both for children and our more frail seniors. Traffic frequently moves at speeds significantly above posted limits. Red lights are considered only a ' polite suggestion". And, it does not serve even those cars as well as it could.
What is being advocated by this dialogue on Skinny Streets is a rational and considered evaluation of productive alternatives to the status quo - an evaluation of alternative solutions to improve our communities and how they will evolve in the next decades.
There are many possible solutions but the key is to discuss them openly and constructively, with the goal of a better, greener and more liveable Delta.
Mike Schneider
Mustel Poll
It was nice to see confirmation on many conversations I have had in the community over the past few years. Recent polling results seem to suggest that the public is generally in favour of many aspects of the Southlands plans. Some detail relating to the poll will be published here shortly.
Mike Schneider
Mustel Poll.
You can take a look at the poll right here. what do you have to say about the results?
Mike Schneider