The Editor,
Port Moody's mayor and councillors were elected in large part because of promises to maintain the city's small-town character and to control development pressures that may arise due to the advent of the Evergreen Line.
Instead, despite overflow crowds at town hall meetings and multiple concerns raised by residents, city council is forging ahead with its vision of massive growth concentrated mainly in the old heritage section of Port Moody.
The plan proposes a 300% to 400% increase in population in Moody Centre and envisions multiple towers without any corresponding addition to Rocky Point Park, nor does it address other infrastructure needs.
Many residents view this proposed OCP as a developers' plan - not a community plan - as evidenced in public records of meetings and feedback forms.
Moody Centre Com-munity Association was not formally invited to the discussion table despite numerous requests and the fact this plan is "essentially a really a big neighbourhood plan for Moody Centre," as was finally admitted in the city's Land Use Committee meeting of April 1.
Our concerns include, but are not limited to:
the rezoning of large industrial areas to allow highrise condos;
massive oceanfront development and concrete canyons;
rezoning of publicly owned land to mixed-use, including residential;
traffic gridlock, including its effect on the movement of emergency vehicles;
loss of heritage buildings;
lack of necessary infrastructure, including parkland;
numerous environmental issues;
lack of adequate and genuine consultation with residents.
The public hearing is set for Tuesday, April 22.
Hazel Mason, president,
Moody Centre Community Association
