The Editor,
Re. “Metro housing desire takes industrial land” (The Tri-City News, Dec. 13).
A letter to Coquitlam’s mayor and council:
We have been impressed with some of the many developments/redevelopments in Coquitlam, particularly those near to transit, shopping and highways. Obviously, population pressures and offshore money are creating an almost insatiable demand, so higher density and higher traffic volumes are inevitable.
The latter aspect is related to the main point of our writing. As council is aware, Coquitlam has a relatively small employment base. Industrial/commercial land is in extremely short supply.
It is with serious dismay, therefore, that we understand Beedie Living wants a 30% reduction in one of the very few viable industrial sites, Fraser Mills.
At this rate, Coquitlam will likely never provide any significant increase in local employment if Beedie gets its way on this point.
In addition, it appears obvious that, based on Beedie’s business plan of 2008, the profit for its existing 3,600 residential units planned would be much more, based on the highly inflated 2017 market.
With the frenetic pace of construction in Coquitlam (particularly west Coquitlam), balanced and longer term community/commuting interests need to be taken into account.
We realize that Beedie has not been granted all permits at this time. But we certainly hope approvals are not, in fact, a fait accompli and hearings, etc. are simply a formality and a token gesture.
In closing, we, as 45-year Coquitlam residents, need to be proud of our city and confident that our leadership will not see catering to developers as the overriding priority.
Muriel and Neil Gibb, Coquitlam
