Editor:
I watched the April 22 public hearing, where the vast majority of those speaking - 70 or more in total - were opposed to the Official Community Plan (OCP) as proposed.
Many raised legitimate concerns including: rushing this through to a June 30 deadline despite the fact the deadline proposed by the BC Government is Dec. 31, 2025, major opposition to high rise (up to 24 storey) towers, and traffic congestion from too much development with no chance of significant increased BC Transit.
Once the public hearing ended and council convened it was as though the public hearing had never occurred, or if it did none of the councillors were in attendance. With an acknowledgement to all those attending and the many who had sent written submissions, council approved the OCP as presented, without any further discussion or recognition of the more than three hours of community input. Not one of the many valid issues and concerns was addressed by any of the councillors.
If doing what they believe to be the right thing - which is what one councillor stated when proposing the OCP be approved - means ignoring residents legitimate concerns, then why bother to hold public hearings?
I take exception to that same councillor criticizing previous councils suggesting Delta - in particular Tsawwassen - was a laggard in housing development. Perhaps he is unaware of all the Tsawwassen development that was achieved, including Windsor Woods, The Pillars, Royal Oak, various apartment blocks along Hunter Road and View Crescent, condos on 8a Avenue, Southlands. Tsawwassen is no laggard.
In my presentation, I ended by asking Who is driving the bus? Who owns the updated OCP and future housing vision? Is it Delta council’s OCP, Delta staff’s OCP or is it our OCP - Delta’s residents, homeowners, renters, business owners?
I guess we now have the answer.
Roger Emsley
