The Editor,
Re. "Vagramov resolution defeated; Port Moody council to work together on Moody Centre guidelines" and "This is why Port Moody's mayor demanded a rare Saturday meeting — and how much it could cost" (tricitynews.com).
As a resident of Port Moody for the past 15 years, I have never seen such unrest in our community. Our current council continues to ignore and put aside public input, it seems to me. People who go to meetings and speak up seem to be ignored. There is a huge difference between being heard and being allowed to speak.
The proposal presented by the consortium of Moody Centre land owners and developers, if built, would bring employment, housing and much needed interest to Port Moody. I am afraid the consortium will back out of this and not continue to negotiate with the requested changes that Mayor Rob Vagramov and Coun. Hunter Madsen have asked for.
I am sure these changes are not necessarily those the public wish to see nor the consortium, I am sure. The transit-oriented design, as presented by the developer, is a reasonable project that with some changes coming from public input could certainly work for Port Moody.
We elected the council to work for taxpayers, not to be a dictatorship that thinks they know what taxpayers want. I think the council should leave the development process in the hands of those with the knowledge and understanding to see this project to completion.
This project would provide badly needed affordable housing, many amenities and green space, and create employment for Port Moody. As the project is so close to the Moody Centre SkyTrain station, it would decrease traffic and gas emissions. Instead of a household having two, three or four cars, it may consider only having one.
I hate to see our council and voters so disconnected, and would like to see this project get approved incorporating additional public input.
Sharon McRae, Port Moody
