Editor:
I am strongly opposing the Rezoning Application for 5556 and 5558 Nickerson Road. The insertion of 12 equal narrow lots into an existing large lot R3 zone that is typical of West Sechelt is not the right idea. Existing R3 could nicely house six residences without stressing the already high traffic volume on Norwest Bay Road. High density in the inner core of Sechelt is more conducive to density.
It is criminal that the beauty of West Sechelt District is subject to clear cuts, the removal of natural vegetation stripped of its soil and leveled to flat platforms that benefit the developer to maximize their profits to the determent of the environment, water retention, wildlife habitat and the natural contours of the land that existed here since the last ice age.
The existing idea of density in Sechelt does nothing to enhance, beautify or impress our citizens and visitors. We encourage and have allowed the developers to dictate the planning of our community, to dictate the style of single-family homes and townhouses that have created a monoculture without identity or beauty. They lack a diversity of architecture style, materials, colors, lot sizes and price ranges.
Perhaps a visit to Kitsilano in Vancouver would give our representatives some insight into how to form a community that is inclusive. One hundred years ago after the great war it achieved inclusiveness and density by incorporating different lot sizes, different architectural styles, different building textures, different income groups to house its citizens and immigrants.
Perhaps it is time to stop paying lip-service to our ideas of inclusiveness and begin to practice it by how we design our community.
Let’s change the practice of rubber-stamping developers. Let’s begin a practice of vision, of creating a proud and sustainable inclusive community, called Sechelt. Let’s get the job done.
Bill Baker, Sechelt
