In regards to the building of mega -homes in Surrey, I think council better give their heads a shake.

There is only one reason that a single family requires over 3,500 square feet of living space. That is so they can install one to five suites.

So what, you say. It’s their house. Okay, but they are not zoned for suites, although they may pay more for water and garbage pick-up to the city, even legal suites do not pay extra for school taxes or fire and hospital services. Or parks and rec, even though there are people living in them that require all of the city’s services and have children attending schools. The illegal suites pay nothing extra.

School budgets have been axed in Surrey allowing our children fewer days of school because of lack of funding (179 days of the year), hospitals are straining to keep up and council would allow even more population that doesn’t contribute.

Access to many roads here in Surrey are inaccessible at some times of the day because of the parking on both sides of the road and this causes problems for ambulances, fire trucks and school buses to get to where they need to be. There are often in excess of six vehicles belonging to one house.

Council has never solved the problem of secondary suites in this city and for them to contemplate making even more possible is both irresponsible and stupid. Before they create another problem try fixing the first one.

Duplexes pay more , so do apartment buildings. Try taxing on the number of residents instead... at least that is more fair. I raised my family in a nice three-bedroom two -level home. Including the basement we had under 2,200 square feet and we were fine.

Now there are only two in my house and yet I pay as much tax as 10 people in another house.

If council does not look after the city and its residents, maybe we should reconsider who we elect.

Verna Nugent