The Editor,
Re: "Hamilton update area plan needs a re-think," Letters, July 18
I am very puzzled by the letter from Betty Carr that says that "high density" will not work in Hamilton. I have been attending the OCP meetings for Hamilton and I would expect that she has as well.
However, she has either missed the point or is choosing to ignore it.
All the things she complains about not having in Hamilton, we don't have because there aren't enough people here to support them.
We don't have more restaurants because we don't have a big enough population to support them.
We lost our grocery store because they couldn't make a go of it. To get a library or community policing office or even some medical services, we need to have more people.
All the people I have talked to about the options shown at the last meeting are in favour of more density, not less.
They understand that to get nice new streets with sidewalks, better park space, more trails and more shops in the area, someone has to pay for it all.
The only way the city raises enough money to do all that is with more development in our area.
I think Oris Consulting and the City of Richmond are doing a great job of informing the neighbourhood about our choices. My only complaint is it is taking too long to get shovels in the ground!
Bob Shoker Richmond
