The Editor,
Re: Port Coquitlam is suffering because of Burke Mountain building (Sept. 27, 2021)
The reality of the situation is that almost 20 years ago in 2002 Wesbild Properties purchased about 400 acres of land from the B.C. government and other private landowners.
In 2014, Wesbild purchased an additional 370 acres of Burke Mountain (https://wesbild.com/residential/the-foothills-at-burke-mountain/) and have worked on the overall plan for the community.
Development of Burke Mountain isn't a sudden happening and nobody should be surprised with the construction and growth.
Through countless public hearings, planning sessions, and consultation, a new community has emerged with schools, parks, trails and yes, residents and development.
The construction of thousands of new homes that are being built on Burke Mountain was not done in secret.
I will agree that Port Coquitlam residents have suffered as a result of traffic passing through their community. Pretty much every intersection on Coast Meridian Road has a traffic signal and it can be a lengthy, time consuming trip to travel from Lougheed Highway to David Avenue.
I think that all residents — in Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam — should be most frustrated with the delays in planning and building the Fremont Connector.
Getting the Fremont Connector built isn't a matter of if, but rather a matter of when.
A second arterial route up to Burke Mountain has always been part of the overall plan.
The City of Port Coquitlam has listened to their residents, made adjustments and protected neighbourhoods, and even though decisions were reached in 2015, almost seven years later, there is no connector: https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/port-coquitlam-council-picks-devon-road-for-fremont-connector-3005146
Burke Mountain development is here and it will continue to grow. Residents are moving in and, unfortunately, the road infrastructure is not keeping pace.
- Shawn Cody, Burke Mountain, Coquitlam
