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Letter: Mega home meeting shows public interest not being served

Dear Editor, If there is anything concrete that came out of the farcical series of meetings that were supposedly intended to facilitate open dialogue about the ways in which mega-house construction is reshaping our neighbourhoods, it would be that ou
Mega home forum
City hall has been packed for almost every meeting regarding mega homes in Richmond

Dear Editor,

If there is anything concrete that came out of the farcical series of meetings that were supposedly intended to facilitate open dialogue about the ways in which mega-house construction is reshaping our neighbourhoods, it would be that our mayor and his sycophants on city council have totally abrogated their responsibility as public servants to ensure that the most educated and enlightened principles of urban and town planning will inform the design and development of our community.

Responsible, forward-looking town-planning is, in the first instance, the responsibility of local government with possible collaborations with provincial and federal agencies when necessary, and successful planning strategies are best developed by committees that include governing politicians, concerned citizens, and qualified professionals such as designers, architects, engineers, urban planners, and environmental scientists all working together in respectful and equal partnership.

When local politicians, such as the ones we have stuck ourselves with in Richmond, are disinterested in initiating such processes, and/or are motivated to satisfy agendas that have little, if anything, to do with mapping-out the most viable and promising future for the community they are supposed to be serving, we end-up with what Richmond has become: a cash cow for off-shore ‘investors,’ contractors and realtors, rather than a liveable, diversified and inclusive community.

No, Mr. Brodie, the responsibility for establishing initiatives for educated town planning is yours, not the federal government’s. Enough dodging, weaving and hiding.

The people who pay your salary deserve better.

Ray Arnold

Richmond