Editor:
As a resident of West Sechelt, I have been closely following the proposed plan to build the Wesbrooke by the Sea facility on the Clayton property. I am deeply frustrated by what appears to me to be a done deal, and I feel council has failed to hear the voice of the neighbouring residents. I recognize and support the development of facilities for the growing population of senior citizens and individuals displaced by the government’s “divestment” in this health care sector. However, I do not believe the solution to this dilemma should come at the expense of the healthy development of the town and affordable housing. I believe these facilities need to be built in the city core to promote access to services and recreational facilities.
By approving the rezoning of the Clayton property, council is creating a precedent whereby the developer will be granted licence to build a for profit facility that will permanently stall the development of housing on the ridge. People will not want to purchase homes that have a loading bay less than 50 metres from their bedroom windows. At the public hearing, the developer disingenuously suggested that all the facility needed was a “pizza van” sized vehicle loaded with “local” produce. I suggest these delivery vehicles will be filled with industrial food products shipped across the ferry from the Lower Mainland. To say nothing of waste management, cooking smells from the commercial-size kitchen, traffic on local roads past a park and neighbouring school, a light shadow which will affect the western portion of the Silverstone project and the demand placed on local water resources. No environmental, noise pollution or traffic studies have been made available for public scrutiny. Why is this?
I urge council to return to the core values of sound development whereby commercial properties are limited to the core of the town and allow the development of affordable housing on the ridge. All the residents of Sechelt need services and housing, but working people, school children and taxpayers also have the right to noise control, height restrictions and multi-age neigbourhood developments that respect these limits. Residents of Sechelt have the right to expect council to promote the common good and follow the Official Community Plan.
Melanie Wells, Sechelt
