The cost of sprawl - 1 acre lots outside urban boundary in Maple Ridge

I was very brave yesterday and spoke at a public meeting (reading from a piece of paper, that is...) about a development application of 91 one-acre lots 5 kms outside the urban boundary in Maple Ridge, serviced by city water. We can't afford to subsidize these kinds of developments, and it's also not exactly an exemplary model for a sustainable community. Read my blog post here.

This development will be back on the agenda for the Council meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 7 pm. Please send your comments to mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca or have your say at the meeting.

Comment by Jackie Chow on May 29, 2013 at 4:03pm: I went to a Council meeting yesterday, where this development was approved 6 to 1 (Councilor Bell opposed). The arguments were basically that it should be approved because it's allowed according to the OCP. Some words of "concern" about loss of tree cover on these million $ properties (the developer/future owners are legally allowed at this point in time to clearcut), and the access roads getting more traffic. Coun. Bell brought the issue of sustainable development/smart growth on the table, but it basically fell on deaf ears. Not a word about greenhouse gas emissions or infrastructure deficit. This was the last large development of one-acre lots in the area.