The Editor,
Re. “Fire hall, works yard and now ERH?” (Letters, The Tri-City News, March 9).
We have lived in Port Moody for more than 35 years, the last 11 in Newport Village. We have always loved this city and our neighbourhood but, now, with the arrival of the Evergreen Extension, it is even more one of the most desirable areas in the Lower Mainland.
While many would like to keep this gem to themselves, responsibilities to the greater community plus the need to provide more services and expand the tax base make further development inevitable. Therefore, we feel obligated to present an alternative view to the recent volume of opposition expressed to proposed new high-density residential development in the Inlet Centre area.
We do not support all new development. On the contrary, we have taken an active role over the past decade in opposing development proposals presented with only potential profits in mind. But the vehement opposition expressed in The Tri-City News and elsewhere to recent proposals for the redevelopment of the old fire hall site and the works yard plus the Eagle Ridge Hospital properties seems premature and shortsighted.
All manner of reasons for opposition are presented, the most popular ones being: increased traffic, that these properties should become park and, and that they may be needed for other civic or hospital purposes. We cannot subscribe to any of these reasons.
First, only a small portion of the traffic in Inlet Centre comes from the local buildings, the vast majority being vehicles coming in from Ioco, Heritage Mountain or along Guildford Way to shop, use the recreation centre or pass through on their way to other parts of the city.
Second, these proposals involve properties located at busy intersections that are inappropriate for parkland.
Finally, as far as the properties being needed in the future, during the approval process, both the city and hospital would be required to present planning data to support their contention that the properties will not be needed.
Opponents ignore the fact that with SkyTrain service comes the obligation to contribute to its success and the goal of removing as much traffic as possible from Metro Vancouver roads by allowing more housing to be built within walking distance of stations.
Placing highrises on the fire hall and hospital properties would maximize the number of units available to meet this obligation. These properties have the advantage of being situated so as to minimize the effect on the access to existing buildings and on their view corridors. Placing a highrise on the works yard site presents problems to be seriously considered as it might interfere with the valuation critical inlet water views of current Suter Brook residents.
While these proposals are in the very early stages and would need careful monitoring to assure they contribute to other important goals, such as the inclusion of affordable housing and other community needs, we feel that they have sufficient positive possibilities to be moved ahead in the approval process.
Doug and Deborah Mills,
Port Moody
