LETTER—Development okay
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Updated: November 19, 2009 10:20 AM
I support the plan for developing Southlands which has been created with much support and careful planning from many members of the Tsawwassen community. It is truly a community-based plan.
This concept is thoughtful and innovative; its land distribution to the community is very generous; the community process has been extensive and inclusive. And Sean Hodgins (president, Century Group) has been incredibly patient with all the inaccurate and unfair criticisms some community members have irresponsibly put into print.
I was raised on a farm and I remember my father, the farmer, was one time upset enough about a chicken or hog farm being considered for the adjacent lot to our house, to buy that lot.
Farming is not some romantic, bucolic notion of “back to nature” that some would have us believe of present-day agriculture. Farming is now high tech, machinery-intensive, big business that requires big money, big machinery, and big practices to make it financially viable and to enable families to stay on the land.
Would neighbours of Southlands appreciate or support the large trucks, tractors, combines, etc, coming and going off of Boundary Bay Road or 56th Street that would inevitably be necessary to farm that piece of property?
I hope the nay-sayers will take time to inform themselves about the benefits we will enjoy as this project develops over the next 20 years because it’s not going to happen tomorrow, despite what some people would have you think.
Let’s be part of a responsible process that builds Tsawwassen, not voices that prevent others from enjoying what we have here.
Eileen Beltgens,
Delta
