To the Editor:
When sub-divisions are developed the same scenario happens everywhere. In communities some unused or marginal land gets rezoned. The trees come down and new houses go in (right across from the other farm) and the folks in the new house are so happy with the view, the setting, the "country feel." Of course "their house" is sitting right where a beautiful orchard use to be, and that doesn't matter.
Then, when someone wants to ask city hall to rezone the other half of the farm, the battle begins.
"I came here because!... it was so scenic to see the horses and the country setting" (Langley) or "the grassland where the kids could play and ride their bike" (Richmond) or "I found my spot on earth with the lamas and the old barn and freedom of country (Mission)."
Which brings me to my street, Stave Lake. We moved here in '81 to a country setting (right on top of a garbage dump). The motto on our gate says "Changing the world, one yard at a time." We created our own 5-acre flower park and the road runs through it. The only flowers you can see are ones we can't hide. What a picturesque place to live. But it didn't stay that way.
We use to get two cars an hour "through" our property - now we get 200.
My wife probably crosses the road 30 times a day to the other side of our land. Where are all the cars going? They are all going to homes that they own - that weren't there when "we" bought. Repeatedly we were asked - "do you approve or object to this new house or subdivision or new street?" It changed our life style - so why didn't we stop it all? Why didn't we get on the phone and gather objectors to storm city hall?
It was because someone had allowed us to have our house where we wanted.
Don & Hilda Warkentin, Mission, BC.
