The Editor,
Re: Victoria Drive lot could've had 104 homes: Port Coquitlam mayor (April 24, 2024)
As an area resident I am frustrated with the public hearing stop, but I am equally frustrated and disheartened that the City of Port Coquitlam put us in the position of having to fight for our community’s safety.
I am not against the development, which I think has been well-thought out and is a good use of the land.
I (along with the surrounding community) am outraged that the main arterial route of Victoria Drive was never fairly considered as an access route for the new development.
By directing traffic to local streets instead of the arterial route, the city is not prioritizing the safety of those who choose to use active transportation like walking, biking, wheeling and rolling or who choose to play in the surrounding streets of the community.
Lynwood Avenue acts as a safe connector route between the trail systems (Deboville Slough, Hyde Creek Trail and Greg Moore Trail) and is an important route for children and youth accessing Leigh Elementary and Minnekhada Middle.
By introducing development traffic into this street and surrounding local streets like Wedgewood and Apel, they are increasing the chances of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts.
If this “gift from the province” is here to stay, we need the city to do a better job of protecting its residents and doing its part in building healthy, strong communities as we have been silenced.
- Jenny Urbaniak, Port Coquitlam
