The Editor,
Re. "Moody Centre hit hard by new OCP" (Letters, The Tri-City News, April 18).
Letter writer Hazel Mason must be looking at a different official community plan than the one that is actually under consideration at Port Moody city hall.
As I understand it, oceanfront development is slated for study, not approval; future development is focused on Evergreen Line stations to minimize auto use by future residents; the Moody Centre Heritage Area will not be lost but further protected; and there has been more public consultation for this OCP than any other project in Port Moody's history.
Perhaps the reason the Moody Centre Community Association was not formally invited to the discussion table is because it is essentially a small, no-growth special interest group, not a legitimate neighbourhood organization with proper governance and broadly based membership.
The mayor and council have clearly listened to a wide variety of opinions about the future of Moody Centre and arrived at an excellent plan that balances the need for amenities and economic revitalization with preserving the small-town character of the heritage area.
John Grasty, Port Moody
