Open letter to Richmond mayor and council,
I’m writing with respect to the Steveston boardwalk controversy.
Please, enough already!
I’m a 20-year-plus citizen of Richmond and proud of it.
Having said that, I’m now at the point where I’m embarrassed at your actions with respect to the Steveston Boardwalk.
I have sat back patiently while those who apparently have far more experience and knowledge of the situation attempt to resolve this issue.
It has now apparently been a decade of dispute with no resolution.
Instead, my wife and I walk the boardwalk regularly to look at boarded-up buildings with no end in sight.
City council and the mayor have taken on their roles to make the community of Richmond a better place for all of us.
I think that in many areas they have done well, for which I’m very grateful.
I’m sure their job is often a thankless one. With respect to the Steveston boardwalk however, they have, and continue to, let the citizens of Richmond down; they have failed.
I have reviewed and considered the numerous to and fro arguments published in the News. I appreciate the issues.
Onni built the development under maritime zoning, meaning business operating out of it would need to be boating or fishing-related.
The buildings sit empty, though, as Onni has not leased the space to those types of businesses.
They have probably not done so for the reasons we all assume; there aren’t any. Onni has unsuccessfully applied to rezone the area for commercial use.
City council expresses its views in the press that “Onni is not doing enough to look for marine tenants,” or “Onni will make millions by upgrading the zoning.”
To that, I say, “So what?” Onni has built for us an amazing addition to Steveston that all its citizens and guests can enjoy, thank you.
Onni took the risk, Onni invested the funds, Onni presumably stands behind its work.
Why can’t Onni profit (to some degree) off its vision?
I appreciate the city’s point that the initial zoning would not be complied with if Onni was allowed to now lease the space to commercial retailers.
The city’s main argument appears to be “We can’t let them get away with this.”
To that, I say, who are you acting for when you take this position?
The press refers to many members of council that say “we need to hear more from the community.”
Where are the surveys? Who is asking us what we want? Do a few town hall meetings suffice?
I’m betting that the majority of the people who use the boardwalk and live in the area want to see restaurants, a coffee shop, local gift store, maybe a grocery store.
I’m betting the majority of people do not want to see a bank, health office and childcare business, as Coun. Linda McPhail suggested.
Where does that suggestion come from? Is that what the people of Richmond said they wanted?
If they did, I would be surprised, but so be it. Isn’t that what Ms. McPhail and the other councillors should be doing — asking us what we really want? Where is that survey? What are you waiting for?
Council member Bill McNulty was quoted as saying, “I’m not in a rush to develop Imperial Landing.”
With respect, we do not need our leaders to sit by and let their citizens suffer and watch this standoff any longer.
I’m a litigation lawyer in a Vancouver law firm, where I have practiced for more than 20 years.
I have mediated hundreds of claims worth tens of millions of dollars.
I see this saga and think, “put the right people from Onni and the city in a room with the directive to get a deal done that serves the people of Richmond and that Onni can live with and be done with it.”
Enough already!
Steven D. Wallace
Richmond
