The Editor,
With the impending civic election, we are seeing more of the same old buzz words.
I like "population densification." It means more people in a smaller space.
I am the first one to stand up to preserve the Agricultural Land Reserve; we need food, right?
So we must build up not out; agreed.
But as we increase growth we must build infrastructure. That means more firehalls, not just new ones, more ambulance crews, more police and more roads.
Richmond has a bad track record for planning. Look at No. 5 Road and Stevestson Highway, for example. They built the entertainment complex on No. 6 Road; did they improve the Steveston Highway overpass? No! They built Ironwood; what about the overpass? No! They are "densifying" a neighbourhood in the area and building high density housing right at No. 5 Road and Steveston Highway and what are they doing about traffic? Well, they are putting the police station on the wrong side of the intersection; that should make rush hour fun.
Have you tried to drive through No. 5 Road and Steveston Highway lately? That is an example of densification without planning.
We could take some of the pressure off the intersection with a freeway ramp on Blundell Road. I understand that would lead to some "traffic densification" on a street that may displease a couple of councillors.
It is time to throw the fun buzz words aside and demand reasonable planning. It is your city and your money. When you see the candidates looking for your vote, demand answers to the hard questions.
We are certainly paying enough in taxes. We have a right to expect that our money is being spent to make Richmond a more pleasant place in which to live, and I mean for everybody, not just council members and the folks on the south end of No. 3 Road.
Scott Stewart Richmond
