Editor:
Despite a better architectural design and layout of the 5410 Mills Rd. high-density multi-family townhouse development, the scale of Westcor’s “revised” application for 34 townhouses + 10 basement suites would still adversely impact our little neighbourhood by causing a great increase in traffic and on-street parking.
We appreciate that the DOS planning manager, Ian Holl, recommended that council direct the developer to conduct a traffic impact study and that there was inadequate onsite parking.
Adding up all of Westcor’s four separate developments (along Mills Road) shows that there could be 76 to (as many as) 94 new residential units (houses, townhouses and basement suites) built here – resulting in an additional 167 (or more) vehicles driving on a 500-metre-long road. Because Mills is also the feeder road for Bligh, Kensington, Burdett, Carnaby and Higgs roads to access the highway, the increase in vehicular traffic would be overwhelming. Especially considering that eight more homes are scheduled to be built in the 6300 block of Bligh Road – plus the 32 building lots at the intersection of Bligh and Kensington roads.
Our neighbourhood of single-family homes was never designed or zoned for this and would be overrun. We trust that the professional engineer hired to conduct this traffic impact study will factor in all of our projections and that council will exercise a more balanced approach to sustainable development here.
Teri McArter (on behalf of the Mills Road Committee), Sechelt
