Open letter to Richmond City Council members:
In the ongoing stalemate regarding the re-zoning of the retail space for Onni Group’s Imperial Landing development in Steveston, I can’t believe that this current council would consider amending the zoning of this development, in their favour.
Onni Group went ahead and built the development with a clear understanding of what the retail portion was zoned for, “mixed maritime use,” did they not?
If that zoning classification for the retail section of their development wasn’t what they really wanted, and they hoped they could get a variance once it was built, that was a gamble they undertook with their eyes wide open.
It didn’t work out like they hoped it would. Tough luck. It can remain unleased for all I care. It’s not unattractive, even if vacant. Play by the rules set out, or try to change the rules BEFORE you build!
If this current city council buckles to this developer’s demand for negotiating a re-zoning after the fact, you’ll make it very clear to all Richmond taxpayers, where Richmond City Council’s interests lie.
I’ve lived in Richmond for more than 25 years, and I have a pretty good idea of how pro-development this, and past, elected officials have been.
I suppose you could say that development is inevitable, but it needs to be in the hands of those we elect, and not in the hands of the developers whose only motivation is profit.
Let them lose all their projected profits for the retail sector of their development. Don’t screw over the established merchants of Steveston, who’ve struggled to build their markets.
That was the risk Onni Group undertook by building first and asking for changes after the fact.
They must play by the rules laid out before construction started, or suffer the purported loss of their projected profits.
Moving the goalposts after the game has started is simply poor sportsmanship; if you’ll forgive the sports analogy.
With diminishing respect as a Richmond taxpayer.
Geoffrey Filtness
Richmond
