The Editor,
Re: "Residents plan to oppose Onni rezoning bid," News, March 30.
I was born and raised in Vancouver but have been a Richmond resident now for more than 20 years, and a resident of the Steveston community for more than eight years.
In that time, I have seen Richmond and Steveston grow and grow. The reasons we chose Steveston as our permanent home are because of its beauty, parkland, trails and the community spirit.
Although many people here think the retail infrastructure should remain stagnant, the reality is the population has increased - and continues to grow.
Our community has to be self-sustaining. We don't want to have to take out-of-the-way shopping trips to Ironwood, Blundell or Richmond Centre to obtain high quality goods and produce that we bring back to Steveston.
I agree with the rezoning bid for Onni's waterfront project. The marine business is far from what it was in the 1980s and before that. The community here changed attitudes and welcomed the tourist industry with open arms to revitalize the community during hard economic times.
Although I do believe Steveston is now unofficially known as "Coffee Central," we need other services for this community as well. I would think an IGA Marketplace, or a Choices would fit in very well here.
If we refuse this opportunity, it might not be proposed to us again, due to the lack of retail/commercial space in the immediate or surrounding area.
We now have a situation where the economic cogs are turning properly; a failure to address this issue with the needed support would actually diminish the quality lifestyle enjoyed by each and every resident in the future.
In my mind, that would be a shame.
Steve Kovacs Steveston
