Dear Editor,
Re: “Heritge buildings secure,” Letters Jan. 6.
I strongly disagree with Coun. Bill McNulty’s position that heritage conservation in Steveston is adequate and therefore there shouldn’t be any reason to question its effectiveness.
This response smooths over a system which is not working, is without vision, and in need of significant change.
The conservation strategy is out of date, the Sakamoto guidelines are ancient. If these tools are not upgraded to current planning standards, then the mechanisms for approving future development in historical Steveston will be ineffective resulting in a disjointed patchwork of development in a historical and high-profile area of Richmond.
Tourism is a rapidly evolving economic element of Steveston Village which has not been taken into account in either the Steveston Conservation Strategy or the Sakamoto Design Guidelines.
If the tools and consultation process that council currently uses were adequate for the task at hand, then there wouldn’t be any reason for concern. People like me would not leave the underutilized Richmond Heritage Commission out of frustration.
The city’s efforts to consult with committees and the general public sounds good on paper but are largely wishful thinking.
The heritage commission has repeatedly called for an update to the Sakamoto Design Guidelines and to my knowledge, nothing has been done.
There have been changes to the conservation strategy, yet there continues to be problems with excessive building heights and scale.
The most significant heritage issues that need to be addressed in a fast-moving real estate market relate to city planners being equipped with the right tools and mechanisms to do the job efficiently and effectively and aimed at protecting all elements of heritage in the village, not just the listed buildings.
By way of example, how much consultation was undertaken on tree removal and construction of a new Japanese Garden in the Steveston public park adjacent to the heritage post office?
Where were the design guidelines for redevelopment of the Japanese Benevolent Society Building, which was designed, constructed then redesigned then re-renovated before the project was completed?
Directing funding resources to developing effective planning tools and regulations will save the city time and money in the long term and further ensure outcomes that provide a cohesive heritage environment for both Steveston residents, businesses and visitors.
There is no question that council provide generous funding to many heritage projects. It’s the process and the outcomes and the lack of vision that greatly concerns me.
Kathleen Beaumont
Richmond
